UN!VE=U"M  OF 

ILLINOIS  LIBRARY 

AT  URBANA-CHAMPAIGN 


ILLINOIS  HISTORICAL 


KOHEKT   S     MOOKE, 

<  OI.ONEF,. 


HISTORY 

OF  THK 

EIGHTY-FIFTH 
REGIMENT, 

ILLINOIS    VOLUNTEER   INFANTRY. 


COMPILED  AND  PUBLISHED  UNDER  THE  AUSPICES  OF  THE 
REOIMENTAL  ASSOCIATION, 

i>v 

HENRY    J.    ATEN, 

FIRST  SKK<}EANT  COMIIANY  O  ; 

MSMBEK  OF  THK   JSOCIBxr  OF  THK  AKMY  OF  THE  CUM«K_KL AND. 


HIAWATHA.  KANSAS. 
18O1. 


,  1901, 


In  the  years  that  have  passed  since  the  close  of  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion  there  has  been  more  or  less  talk  among  its  members  of 
a  history  of  the  regiment.  Colonel  Dilworth  gave  the  subject 
much  attention,  and  at  one  time  had  about  decided  to  undertake 
the  work.  He  had  long  commanded  the  regiment,  and  was  more 
than  ordinarily  well  equipped  for  the  compilation  of  such  a  work, 
and  it  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  he  did  not  find  time  to  accom- 
plish his  purpose.  Then  there  were  several  men  in  the  ranks  who 
kept  diaries  through  the  war,  some  of  whom,  at  least,  had  the 
writing  of  a  history  of  the  Eighty-fifth  as  an  end  in  view.  But  no 
definite  steps  had  been  taken  until  the  matter  was  taken  up  by  the 
Regimental  Association.  In  order  that  the  reader  may  know  how 
the  work  was  undertaken  by  the  writer,  and  for  the  information  of 
those  of  our  comrades  who  have  not  enjoyed  the  privilege  of  at- 
tending its  reunions,  the  following  short  sketch  is  given  of  the 
origin  and  purpose  of  the 


At  a  meeting  of  old  settlers  and  ex-soldiers  held  in  Rockwell 
Park,  at  Havana,  111.,  on  September  16th,  1885,  there  were  present 
fifty-six  former  members  of  the  Eighty-fifth  regiment,  all  of  the 
companies  being  represented  except  Company  F.  At  this  meeting 
an  organization  was  formed  to  be  known  as  the  Eighty-fifth  Regi- 
ment Illinois  Volunteer  Association. 

The  declared  purpose  of  the  association  was  to  hold  annual 
reunions  on  or  about  the  eighth  day  of  October,  that  being  the 
anniversary  of  the  first  battle  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged, 
for  social  enjoyment;  for  the  cultivation  of  the  friendships  formed 
during  the  trying  ordeals  of  soldier  life;  for  the  gathering  of 
material  for  historic  purposes,  and  for  teaching  patriotism  to  the 
young.  The  following  named  comrades  were  elected  officers  for 
the  first  year:  Philip  L.  Dieffenbacher,  commander;  David  Sig- 
ley,  adjutant;  William  H.  Hole,  treasurer;  Jacob  H.  Prettyman, 
quartermaster;  James  T.  Pierce,  commissary,  and  Joseph  S.  Bar- 
wick,  chaplain. 

58461 


vj  INTRODUCTION. 

The  association  has  held  a  reunion  each  year  since  its  organi- 
zation, with  an  average  attendance  of  sixty-five  members. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1899  it  was  decided  to  hold  the  next 
reunion  on  the  third  Wednesday  in  October,  1900,  and  a  motion 
was  adopted  authorizing  Comrade  Henry  J.  Aten  to  compile  and 
publish  a  history  of  the  regiment. 

At  the  sixteenth  annual  meeting  held  in  Havana  on  the  third 
Wednesday  in  October,  1900,  the  association  was  broadened  and  its 
usefulness  extended  by  amending  the  constitution  so  as  to  permit 
the  wives  of  members  to  become  honorary  members  of  the  asso- 
ciation, and  their  sons  and  daughters  to  become  auxiliary  mem- 
bers. At  this  meeting  Havana,  Illinois,  was  selected  as  the  place 
for  holding  future  reunions,  the  same  to  be  held  on  the  third 
Wednesday  in  October,  and  the  following  officers  were  elected  for 
the  ensuing  year:  A.  D.  Cadwallader,  commander;  William  H. 
Hole  and  David  Sigley,  vice-commanders;  James  T.  Seay,  adju- 
tant; Thomas  C.  Eaton,  quartermaster,  and  J.  B.  Shawgo,  trustee 
of  the  Kennesaw  Mountain  Monument  Association. 

When  the  task  of  writing  a  history  of  the  gallant  regiment  in 
which  it  was  my  good  fortune  to  serve  during  the  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion, was  assigned  to  me,  the  trust  was  accepted  with  many 
misgivings.  I  knew  the  work  would  be  both  delicate  and  difficult, 
and  after  considering  various  plans,  the  one  worked  out  in  the 
following  pages  seemed  to  promise  the  best  results,  and  I  entered 
upon  the  work  with  such  ability  as  I  could  command,  regardless 
of  the  time  required  or  the  labor  involved.  Although  present  with 
the  regiment  every  day  from  its  organization  until  it  was  dis- 
banded, I  found  as  the  work  progressed,  my  memory  in  conflict 
with  the  official  reports,  letters  written  at  the  time  events  to  be 
narrated  were  occurring,  and  the  diary  kept  by  myself  throughout 
the  War.  In  all  such  cases  I  have  relied  upon  the  written  record, 
believing  it  to  be  more  trustworthy  than  mere  recollection. 

Most  of  the  personal  incidents  which  would  have  enlivened  the 
story  have  been  lost  in  the  years  that  have  passed  since  the  war 
ended,  but  it  was  believed  that  the  official  reports,  histories  of  the 
Civil  War,  and  the  memories  of  leading  commanders  on  both  sides 
could  be  drawn  upon  to  make  up  much  that  had  been  lost  to  mem- 
ory. It  also  appeared  not  only  appropriate,  but  necessary,  to  a 
proper  appreciation  of  the  work  accomplished  by  the  regiment,  to 
include  a  brief  outline  of  the  campaigns  in  which  it  was  engaged, 
and  connect  its  movements  with  the  larger  movements  of  the  bri- 


INTRODUCTION.  Vli. 

gade,  the  division,  the  corps,  and  the  army  of  which  it  was  a  part. 
This  has  been  attempted,  and  in  the  course  of  compilation,  the 
writer  has  personally  examined  every  book  and  paper  in  the  office 
of  the  adjutant  general  at  Springfield  relating  to  the  Eighty-fifth, 
the  records  of  the  pension  office  and  of  the  war  department  at 
Washington  have  been  searched,  and  the  following  authorities 
have  been  consulted: 

The  Personal  Memoirs  of  General  Grant. 

The  Personal  Memoirs  of  General  Sherman. 

The  Personal  Memoirs  of  General  Sheridan. 

A  Narrative  of  Military  Service,  by  General  W.  B.  Hazen. 

The  Life  of  Gen.  George  H.  Thomas,  by  Thomas  B.  Van  Home. 

The  American  Conflict,  by  Horace  Greeley. 

The  History  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  by  Gen.  Henry  M. 
Cist. 

The  History  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  by  Thomas  B. 
Van  Home. 

Atlanta,  and  the  March  to  the  Sea,  by  Gen.  Jacob  D.  Cox. 

The  History  of  the  Ninety-sixth  Illinois,  by  C.  A.  Partridge. 

The  History  of  the  113th  Ohio,  by  Sergeant  F.  M.  McAdams. 

The  History  of  the  Fifty-second  Ohio,  by  Nixon  B.  Stewart. 

The  History  of  the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois,  by  John  H.  Kinnear. 

McCook's  Brigade  at  Kennesaw,  by  Captain  F.  B.  James. 

The  Rebellion  Records,  published  by  the  U.  S.  Government. 

A  Narrative  of  Military  Operations,  by  the  Confederate  Gen- 
eral, Joseph  E.  Johnston. 

Advance  and  Retreat,  by  the  Confederate  General,  J.  B.  Hood. 

The  Life  of  the  Confederate  General,  N.  B.  Forrest,  by  General 
Thomas  Jordan. 

The  narrative  has  been  made  impersonal,  and  the  personal 
sketches  have  been  written  with  no  desire  to  unduly  exalt  the  per- 
sonal achievements  of  anyone.  A  blank,  forwarded  to  every  mem- 
ber of  the  regiment  whose  address  could  be  ascertained,  in  many 
instances  failed  to  elicit  a  reply.  Such  should  not  complain  if  they 
find  their  personal  sketches  deficient,  although  the  writer  made 
every  effort  to  complete  them.  The  work  was  undertaken  as  a 
labor  of  love,  with  no  expectation  of  pecuniary  reward,  and  with 
the  entire  edition  sold,  the  copy  retained  by  the  writer  will  be  the 
most  expensive. 

Cherishing  the  memory  of  every  old  comrade,  whether  living  or 
dead,  proud  of  the  fact  that  it  was  my  privilege  to  be  associated. 


viii.  INTRODUCTION. 

with  them  through  an  heroic  epoch,  this  work  is  submitted  with 
the  hope  that  it  may  awaken  proud  recollections  in  the  breast  of 
an  old  comrade;  that  it  may  make  a  son's  heart  exult  at  the  sight 
of  a  father's  name,  and  inspire  him  to  unselfish  and  patriotic 
effort,  and,  above  all,  that  it  may  help  reveal  and  establish  the 
truth,  from  which  none  of  the  brave  men  of  the  Eighty-fifth  have 
anything  to  fear.  The  writer  has  made  no  effort  to  meet  the  re- 
quirements of  critics,  but  has  written  for  those  who,  by  experience 
or  sympathy,  can  enter  into  the  spirit  which  actuated  the  volun- 
teer soldier  in  the  war  for  the  Union.  And  if  the  book  shall  meet 
the  approval  of  surviving  comrades,  their  friends,  and  the  friends 
of  those  deceased,  I  shall  feel  amply  rewarded  for  my  labor. 

To  all  the  comrades  who  have  aided  in  the  work  I  return  cor- 
dial thanks,  and  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  acknowledge  my  obliga- 
tions for  information  furnished  to  General  I.  N.  Reece,  adjutant 
general  of  Illinois,  and  his  courteous  office  force,  to  the  Hon.  H. 
Clay  Evans,  commissioner  of  pensions,  and  to  General  R.  A.  Alger, 
secretary  of  war. 

HENRY  J.  ATEN. 

Hiawatha,  Kansas,  February  1st,  1901. 


xrf    tihianrje  Swhstritors. 


No.  Copies. 

1.  MRS.  CARRIE  A.  PRENT1SS,  Burlington,  N.  J. 

1.  COLONEL  R.  S.  MOORE,  Littleton,  Colo. 

2.  WILLIAM  A.  DILWORTH,  Omaha,  Neb. 

3.  GEORGE  E.  RIDER,  Fort  Smith,  Ark. 

4.  DR.  PHILIP  L.  DIEFFENBACHER,  Havana,  111. 
1.  THOMAS  STEVENS,  Hiawatha,  Kan. 

1.  DR.  GILBERT  W.  SOUTHWICK,  1213  Bath  St.,  Santa  Barbara,  Cal. 

2.  COLONEL  JAMES  R.  GRIFFITH,  Kenosha,  Wis. 
1.  MRS.  JOSEPH  S.  BARWICK,  Virginia,  111. 

1.  COLONEL  ALLEN  FAHNESTOCK,  Glasford,  Peoria  County,  111. 

3.  LIEUT.  ISAAC  W.  CHATFIELD,  514  21st  Avenue,  Denver,  Colo. 
1.  O.  L.  RIDER,  Vinita,  Indian  Territory. 

1.  N.  L.  RIDER,  Vinita,  Cherokee  Nation,  Indian  Territory. 

1.  MRS.  O.  H.  HARPHAM,  Havana,  111. 

1.  SAMUEL  JONES,  ,Mason  City,  111. 

10.  LIEUTENANT  D.  L.  MUSSELMAN,  Quincy,  111. 

1.  PHILIP  CLINE,  Harrisonville,  Mo. 

1.  JOSEPH  A.  MATES,  Naron,  Pratt  County,  Kan. 

i.  WILLIAM  MCLAUGHLIN,  Manito,  in. 

1.  DAVID  P.  BLACK,  Manito,  111. 

1.  LEVI  S.  ANNO,  Kingston,  Hunt  County,  Texas. 

1.  ROBERT  PRINGLE,  Hot  Springs,  South  Dakota. 

1.  JOHN  W.  ALYEA,  Kingfisher,  Oklahoma. 

1.  WILLIAM  T.  LANGSTON,  Abilene,  Kan. 

1.  BENJ.  F.  KRATZER,  Soldiers'  Home,  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

2.  THOMAS  C.  EATON,  Havana,  111. 

1.  ALONZO  F.  KREBAUM,  Duncan's  Mills,  111. 

1.  JESSE  BAILOR,  Bard,  Louisa  County,  Iowa. 

2.  STEPHEN  B.  NOTT,  Lewlstown,  111. 

1.  CHARLES  T.  KISLER,  Havana,  111. 

2.  MASSENA  B.  NOTT,  Lewistown,  111. 

1.  ANDREW  J.  OPYDKE,  Cayton,  Shasta  County,  California. 

2.  LIEUTENANT  A.  D.  CADWALLADER,  Lincoln,  111. 
1.  WILLIAM  B.  WINCHELL,  Lewistown,  111. 

1.  WILLIAM  H.  MITCHELL,  5941  Princeton  Avenue,  Chicago,  111. 

1.  JAMES  S.  CHESTER,  Easton,  Mason  County,  111. 

4.  DAVID  SIGLEY,  Havana,  111. 

1.  FRANCIS  N.  CHESTER,  Teheran,  Mason  County,  111. 

2.  BENJAMIN  F.  SCOVILL,  McKenzie,  North  Dakota. 
2.  FRANK  BLANCHARD,  Havana,  111. 

1.  JOHN  C.  WILSON,  Elk  Creek,  Johnson  County,  Neb. 

1.  JOHN  L.  PHELPS,  Cadams,  Nuckolls  County,  Neb. 

1.  JOHN  R.  NEVILL,  Kincaid,  Anderson  County,  Kan. 

1.  JACOB  S.  DEW,  Tecumseh,  Neb. 


x.  UST  OF  ADVANCE  SUBSCRIBERS. 

No.  Copies. 

1.  ISAAC  LAYMAN,  Dewey,  111. 

1.  GRANVILLE  MADISON,  Blue  Springs,  Gage  County,  Neb. 

1.  JOHN  SIZELOVE,  Calispell,  Stevens  County,  Washington. 

1.  WILLIAM  RHINEDERS,  Rice  Lake,  Barron  County,  Wis. 

2.  JOSEPH  B.  CONOVER,  Kilbourn,  Mason  County,  111. 
1.  NEWTON  C.  PATTERSON,  Mason  City,  111. 

1.  CHARLES  L.  HAMILTON,  Carlinville,  111. 

1.  WILLIAM  D.  CLOSE,  Forest,  Woods  County,  Oklahoma. 

1.  CAPTAIN  P.  S.  SCOTT,  Petersburg,  111. 

4.  JAMES  T.  SEAT,  Havana,  111. 

1.  JAMES  FERGUSON,  Petersburg,  111. 

1.  HENRY  SUTTON,  Havana,  111. 

1.  JAMES  LYNN,  Mason  City,  111. 

1.  WILLIAM  SPILLMAN,  Spring  Bay,  111. 

1.  HENRY  AMSLER,  Pontiac,  111. 

1.  MATTHEW  L.  WRIGLt,  f,  Alvaretta,  Woods  County,  Oklahoma. 

1.  JAMES  F.  BURT,  Litchfleld,  111. 

1.  JOHN  LIVINGSTON,  Bushnell,  111. 

2.  CAPTAIN  H.  S.  LA  TOURRETTE,  Winchester,  111. 
1.  GEORGE  COOPER,  Summum,  111. 

3.  JOHN  ATEN,  Astoria,  111. 

1.  LEWIS  P.  WRIGHT,  Enion,  Fulton  County,  111. 

2.  DR.  JOSEPH  B.  SHAWGO,  Quincy,  111. 

1.  JOHN  THOMPSON,  Oilman  City,  Harrison  County,  Mo. 

1.  PERRY  W.  CLUPPER,  Salem,  Jewell  County,  Kan. 

1.  JOHN  N.  PARR,  Summum,  Fulton  County,  111. 

1.  HENRY  SHIELDS,   Centralia,   Lewis  County,   Washington. 

1.  WILLIAM  H.  McLAREN,  Canton,  111. 

1.  THOMAS  B.  ENGLE,  Coburg,  Montgomery  County,  Iowa. 

1.  JOEL  A.  BARNES,  Summum,  111. 

1.  CAPTAIN  JAMES  T.  McNEIL,  Table  Grove,  111. 

1.  GEORGE  B.  McCLELLAND,  Plymouth,  Hancock  County,  111. 

1.  SAMUEL  THOMPSON,  Lamar,  Barton  County,  Mo. 

2.  HENRY  C.  SWISHER,  Lyndon,  Osage  County,  Kansas. 
1.  GEORGE  H.  WETZEL,  Lewistown,  111. 

1.  WILLIAM  C.  HUDNALL,  Astoria,  111. 

1.  JAMES  P.  ADDIS,  Linden,  Cleveland  County,  Oklahoma. 

2.  WALTER  HUDNALL,  San  Antonio,  Texas. 
1.  CHARLES  DUNCAN,  Duncan's  Mills,  111. 

1.  DR.  HENRY  H.  WILSON,  Lewistown,  Fergus  County,  Montana. 

2.  MARTIN  K.  DOBSON,  Lewistown,  111. 

1.  JOHN  R.  POWELL,  Sheldon's  Grove,  111. 

1.  ANDERSON  JENNINGS,  Wister,  Choctaw  Nation,  Indian  Ter. 

1.  WILLIAM  LANDON,  Ponca  City,  Kay  County,  Oklahoma. 

1.  JOHN  LAPOOL,  Laclede,  Cabell  County,  W.  Va. 

1.  JOHN  WATSON,  807  Millman  Street,  Peoria,  111. 

1.  CHARLES  G.  MATTHEWS,  Renfrew,  Grant  County,  Oklahoma. 

1.  LEONIDAS  COLLINS,  St.  John,  Putnam  County,  Mo. 

1.  WILLIAM  SEVERNS,  Clayton,  St.  Louis  County,  Mo. 

1.  JOHN  B.  PALMER,  Orondo,  Douglass  County,  Washington. 

1.  WILLIAM  BECK,  Rogers,  Benton  County,  Ark. 


UST  OF  ADVANCE  SUBSCRIBERS.  XI. 

No.  Copies. 

1.    SEBASTIAN  G.  BLUMENSHINE,  Clearwater,  Sedgwick  Co.,  Kan. 

1.  ISAAC  FOUNTAIN,  Upland,  Franklin  County,  Neb. 

1.  D.  P.  VAN  HORN,  Cotter,  Iowa. 

2.  WILLIAM  H.  HOLE,  Mason  City,  111. 
1.  LESTER  N.  MORRIS,  Lincoln,  111. 

1.  JACOB  PRETTYMAN,  Havana,  111. 

1.  GEORGE  N.  HOPPING,  Beaver  City,  Neb. 

1.  DAVID  ZENTMIRE,  Cherokee,  Crawford  County,  Kan 

1.  GEORGE  DRAKE,  Clinton,  Clinton  County,  Iowa. 

1.  JOSIAH  McKNIGHT,  Mason  City,  111. 

2.  LIEUTENANT  DANIEL  HAVENS,  Manito,  111. 
1.  ELI  M.  COGDALL,  Manito,  111. 

1.  DALLAS  A.   TRENT,   Manito,  111. 

1.  MRS.  MARTHA   A.   MALONEY,  Manito,   111. 

1.  MRS.  MARY  E.  COX,  Manito,  111. 

1.  CAPTAIN  SAMUEL  BLACK,  Menominee,  Wis. 

1.  COLONEL  BYRON  PHELPS,  Seattle,  Washington. 

1.  MRS.  SARAH  LANGSTON,  Forest  City,  111. 

2.  JOHN  E.  RENO,  Table  Grove,  Fulton  County,  111. 
1.  MRS.  MARY  TOWN,  Havana,  111. 

4.  CHARLES  MORRIS,  Havana,  111. 

1.  LUCIE  J.  ROBERTS,  Manito,  111. 

1.  QUARTERMASTER  HOLOWAY  W.  LIGHTCAP,  Havana,  111. 

1.  CAPTAIN  C.  M.  BARNETT,  Geneva,  Neb. 

1.  PUBLIC  LIBRARY,  Havana,  111. 

1.  JAMES  GOBEN,  Kilbourne,  111. 

1.  CHARLES  POND,  Shubert,  Neb. 

1.  SAMUEL  GRISSOM,  Kilbourne,  111. 

1.  L.  G.  BLUNT,  Kilbourne,  111. 

1.  MRS.  LUCINDA  BRYAN,  Sciota,  111. 

1.  JAMES  J.  PELHAM,  Thermopolis,  Wyo. 

1.  JOHN  L.  HARBERT,  Kilbourne,  111. 

1.  CHARLES  ERICK  HULT,  Swedesburgh,  Henry  County,  Iowa. 

1.  JAMES  WALKER,  Easton,  111. 


of  ?0riraiis. 


Colonel  Robert  S.  Moore. 

(  FRONTISPIECE.) 

Colonel  Caleb  J.  Dilsworth. 

Major  Robert  C.  Rider. 

Surgeon  Philip  L.  Dieffenbacher. 

Asst.  Surgeon  Gilbert  S.  Southwick. 

Adjutant  Clark  N.  Andrus. 

Quartermaster  Holovfay  W.  Lightcap. 

Captain  George  A  Blanchard. 

Captain  Henry  S.  LaTourette. 

Lieutenant  D.  L.  Musselman. 

Lieutenant  John  M.  Robertson. 

Sergeant  W.  Irving  Shannon. 

First  Sergeant  Henry  J.  Aten. 

(  GROUP.) 

Chaplain  Joseph  S.  Barwick. 
Lieutenant  A.  D.  Cadwallader. 

Corporal  David  Sigley. 
Corporal  Joseph  S.  Conover. 

John  Aten. 
Dr.  P   L.  Dieffenbacher. 

Henry  C.  Swrisher. 

Dr.  Joseph  B.  Shaw  go. 

Prof.  D.  L.  Musselman. 

Henry  J.  Aten. 


CHAPTER  I. 


By  the  middle  of  the  summer  of  1862  there  were  few 
among  the  people  either  North  or  South,  who  had  not 
found  ample  cause  for  revising  their  estimate  of  the  mag- 
nitude and  duration  of  the  Civil  War.  During  the  year 
and  more  that  had  passed  since  the  firing  upon  Fort 
Sumter,  there  had  been  many  engagements,  some  of 
which  had  been  bloody  enough  to  satisfy  the  most  san- 
guinary, and  each  side  had  scored  its  victories.  Nearly 
twenty  thousand  men  had  been  shot  dead  on  the  battle- 
field; upward  of  eighty  thousand  had  been  wounded, 
while  an  unknown  number  had  died  of  disease,  in  the  ser- 
vice. 

The  early  engagements  were  disastrous  to  the  Fed- 
eral arms.  Bull  Run  was  a  crushing  defeat,  the  Union 
troops  falling  back  in  panic  to  the  gates  of  the  National 
Capital.  At  Wilson's  Creek,  Missouri,  the  army  was 
forced  to  retreat,  after  the  loss  of  their  gallant  leader, 
General  Lyon,  and  many  men.  Some  victories  of  minor 
importance  had  been  gained  in  West  Virginia,  and  the 
battle  of  Belmont,  Missouri,  was  fought  in  November, 
1 86 1,  which  served  to  give  the  Western  troops  confi- 
dence in  themselves  and  in  their  commander.  At  Mill 
Springs,  Kentucky,  the  Union  forces  won  a  handsome 
victory,  in  which  the  enemy  was  beaten,  driven,  routed, 
his  general  slain  and  his  standards  captured.  Driven 
and  pursued  from  Missouri,  the  rebels  were  defeated  in 
a  hard  fought  battle  at  Pea  Ridge,  Arkansas.  Fort  Don- 
elson  was  captured  with  15,000  prisoners  and  a  large 
number  of  cannon.  The  'battle  of  Shiloh,  fought  in 


14  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

April,  1862,  was  a  decided  victory  for  the  Union  arms, 
though  dearly  won,  and  on  the  thirtieth  of  May  the  Fed- 
eral forces  occupied  Corinth,  Mississippi.  And  on  the 
first  of  June,  after  having  seized  the  peninsula  in  Vir- 
ginia, the  army  of  the  East  was  within  five  miles  of  the 
Confederate  Capital.  At  this  time,  a  line  beginning  on 
the  Chickahominy  river  in  front  of  Richmond,  Virginia, 
thence  running  through  Cumberland  Gap  on  the  south- 
ern border  of  Kentucky,  and  extending  through  Hunts- 
ville,  Alabama,  and  Corinth,  Mississippi,  to  Helena, 
Arkansas,  would  show  the  positions  occupied  by  the 
Union  armies,  and  also  indicate  the  vast  region  that  had 
been  wrested  from  the  foe. 

Meanwhile,  the  South  had  changed  its  opinion  of 
northern  pluck  and  endurance,  and  began  to  admit  by  its 
energetic  action,  that  the  military  instinct  was  not  a  sec- 
tional monopoly.  To  recover  their  losses,  the  Confed- 
erate authorities  devised  a  plan  for  an  offensive  cam- 
paign, in  which  the  armies  under  Lee  in  Virginia,  Bragg 
in  Tennessee,  and  Van  Dorn  in  Mississippi  were  to  be 
largely  reinforced,  and  at  the  same  time  attack  the  Fed- 
erals and  drive  them  from  the  South.  Then  Bragg  and 
Van  Dorn  would  unite  the  standards  of  their  victorious 
columns  at  Louisville  or  Cincinnati,  while  Lee  should 
plant  the  Confederate  flag  on  the  dome  of  the  National 
Capitol,  and  the  two  Confederate  armies  would  invade 
the  North  and  compel  a  recognition  of  the  independence 
of  the  Southern  Confederacy. 

The  plan  for  driving  the  Union  forces  from  Southern 
soil  and  invading  the  North  by  a  simultaneous  advance 
of  all  the  Confederate  armies,  was  popular  with  the  peo- 
ple in  rebellion,  and  under  their  united  and  enthusiastic 


THE  CALL  FOR  ADDITIONAL  TROOPS.  15 

support  developed  unexpected  strength  and  at  first  met 
with  signal  success.  Suddenly  the  Union  armies  were 
thrown  on  the  defensive,  and  from  the  Chickahominy  to 
the  Mississippi  the  enemy  appeared  so  confident  and 
aggressive,  that  it  became  a  question  whether  our  armies 
were  not  to  be  forced  backward,  the  scenes  of  strife 
transferred  to  the  States  north  of  the  Potomac  and  Ohio 
rivers,  and  free  soil  be  watered  with  the  blood  of  heroes 
slain  in  battle. 

In  this  emergency,  the  governors  of  all  the  loyal 
States  signed  a  letter  to  the  President  requesting  him  to 
issue  a  call  for  additional  troops,  and  in  response  to  this 
letter,  Mr.  Lincoln  on  July  2nd,  1862,  issued  a  call  for 
300,000  volunteers.  The  people  fully  appreciated  the 
gravity  of  the  situation,  but  there  was  some  delay  in 
assigning  quotas  to  the  various  States,  so  that  but  little 
was  accomplished  in  the  way  of  recruiting  until  July  had 
nearly  closed.  But  by  the  time  the  recruiting  machinery 
was  in  readiness  volunteers  were  responding  in  large 
numbers,  and  the  closing  week  in  July  and  the  early  days 
of  August  witnessed  large  enlistments.  The  need  of 
troops  continuing  and  becoming  more  and  more  press- 
ing, the  President  on  the  fourth  of  August  issued  an- 
other call  for  300,000  men  in  addition  to  the  300,000 
called  out  in  July. 

That  month  of  August,  1862,  was  one  long  to  be  re- 
membered by  those  who  shared  in  its  exciting  events. 
The  menacing  attitude  of  the  South  had  prepared  the 
loyal  people  of  the  North  for  the  most  energetic  action ; 
the  successive  calls  for  additional  troops  thrilled  them 
with  military  ardor,  and  the  response  was  a  wonderful 
one.  All  sorts  and  conditions  of  men  left  their  business 


16  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

and  enlisted  in  the  ranks.  Boys  of  fifteen  sat  down  and 
cried  because  they  were  not  permitted  to  enlist,  and 
everywhere  there  was  manifest  the  most  intense  devotion 
to  the  Union  and  its  starry  banner.  And  the  young  men 
of  the  North,  many  of  whom  had  others  dependent  upon 
them  for  support,  to  the  number  of  more  than  half  a  mil- 
lion, responded  to  the  call  of  their  country  within  the 
brief  space  of  two  months. 

Amid  the  stirring-  events  of  that  period  the  Eighty- 
fifth  Regiment,  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  was  organ- 
ized. Recruited  at  the  most  critical  period  of  the  war, 
it.  was  composed  of  excellent  material.  With  few  excep- 
tions officers  and  men  had  been  familiar  with  the  use  of 
firearms  from  their  youth,  and  very  many  were  excellent 
marksmen.  They  had  met  men  returning  from  the  great 
battles  of  the  previous  year,  wounded  and  maimed  for 
life.  The  pride  and  pomp  and  circumstance  of  glorious 
war  had  disappeared,  and  all  knew  that  war  meant  not 
only  wounds  and  death,  but  hunger,  hardship  and  'priva- 
tion. Rapidly  organized  and  equipped,  it  was  hurried 
to  the  front  to  meet  the  rising  tide  of  rebellion  on  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio  river.  Commanded  with  ability  and 
led  with  rare  courage,  it  was  given  opportunity  to  bear  a 
conspicuous  part  in  the  struggle  for  the  preservation  of 
the  Union.  It  never  turned  its  back  to  the  foe  but  once, 
and  then  only  in  obedience  to  peremptory  orders.  To 
its  gallant  conduct  in  the  fierce  heat  of  many  battles,  and 
its  noble  bearing  in  every  emergency  its  members  have 
ever  been  able  to  refer  with  pride.  To  the  recital  of  some 
of  these  events  and  to  the  narrative  of  the  whereabouts  of 
the  command  from  day  to  day,  the  following  chapters  are 
devoted. 


RECRUITING  OF  THE  REGIMENT.  17 


CHAPTER  II. 


Captain  Robert  S.  Moore,  of  Company  E,  Twenty- 
seventh  Regiment  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  had  been 
wounded  in  the  advance  upon  Corinth,  Miss.,  and  was  at 
his  home  in  Havana,  on  leave  of  absence  when  the  first 
call  for  troops  was  issued  in  July,  1862.  Impressed,  by 
experience  and  observation  at  the  front,  of  the  urgent 
need  of  more  troops  in  the  field,  he  at  once  began  to  re- 
cruit a  regiment  under  the  following  authority,  which  is 
copied  from  the  original  still  in  possession  of  Colonel 
Moore : 

GENERAL  HEADQUARTERS,  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS. 
ADJUTANT  GENERAL'S  OFFICE. 

Springfield,  July  llth,  1862. 

Captain  Robert  S.  Moore,  Twenty-seventh  Regiment,  Illinois  Vol- 
unteers, Havana,  111. 

Sir:  At  direction  of  Governor  Yates  you  are  hereby  authorized 
to  enroll  and  report  at  Peoria  ten  companies  of  infantry  for  Gov- 
ernment service  for  three  years  unless  discharged, — to  form  a  part 
of  the  forces  authorized  by  late  call  of  the  President. 

Each  of  said  companies  to  consist  of  not  less  than  (83)  nor 
more  than  (101)  strong,  able-bodied  men,  and  to  be  reported  with 
at  least  minimum  number  of  men  within  thirty  days  from  this 
date. 

If  not  reported  with  minimum  number  within  thirty  days,  the 
companies  will  be  liable  to  consolidation  with  others  similarly 
situated  or  the  men  (previous  to  muster  into  service)  at  the  pleas- 
ure of  the  Governor,  discharged.  Company  officers  will  be  ap- 
pointed and  commissioned  by  the  Governor, — the  recommenda- 
tions of  the  companies  will  be  duly  considered — but  fitness  for 
position  will  be  the  rule  governing  appointments. 

You  will  keep  me  advised  of  your  progress  in  recruiting,  report- 
ing weekly  the  number  (and  names)  actually  enrolled,  and  state 


18  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

when  squads  or  companies  are  ready  to  camp,  and  marching  and 
transportation  orders  will  be  promptly  supplied. 

Very  respectfully,    Your  obedient  servant, 

ALLEN  C.  FULLER,  Adjutant  General. 
Official:     JOHN  H.  LOOMIS,  Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

At  this  time  Caleb  J.  Dilworth  was  practicing  law  in 
Havana,  and  he  became  associated  with  Captain  Moore 
in  recruiting  a  regiment.  Under  their  energetic  direc- 
tion recruiting  was  conducted  in  various  towns,  which 
resulted  in  raising  five  companies  in  Mason  County. 

In  the  summer  of  1861  the  Hon.  S.  P.  Cummings,  of 
Astoria,  was  commissioned  mustering  officer  with  the 
rank  of  major,  and  was  active  in  recruiting  some  of  the 
companies  that  entered  the  service  from  Fulton  County 
in  that  year.  As  soon  as  the  quota  had  been  assigned 
the  state  under  the  first  call  of  1862  he  established  re- 
cruiting stations  in  Astoria,  Summum,  and  Marble's 
Mills,  in  South  Fulton.  And  by  the  time  supplies  and 
transportation  were  provided,  three  companies  were 
raised  and  ready  to  go  into  camp  from  Fulton  County. 
Soon  after  the  five  companies  from  Mason  and  the  three 
from  Fulton  arrived  at  Peoria,  the  designated  rendez- 
vous, they  were  joined  by  a  company  commanded  by 
Captain  P.  S.  Scott,  from  Menard  County,  and  one  en- 
rolled by  Captain  John  Kennedy,  at  Pekin,  in  Tazewell 
County,  in  the  latter  part  of  June.  This  completed  the 
number  of  companies  required  to  form  the  regiment; 
each  company  being  under  officers  of  their  own  selection, 
and  all  enlisted  from  adjoining  counties. 

The  camp  at  Peoria  was  pleasantly  situated  on  high, 
well-drained  ground,  immediately  above  the  city,  and 
near  the  west  bank  of  the  Illinois  river.  The  camp  was 


MUSTERED  IN  THE  SERVICE.  19 

supplied  with  tents  and  straw,  but  no  blankets  were  fur- 
nished for  several  days,  and  meantime,  the  frequent  rains 
and  cool  nights  gave  the  men  a  foretaste  of  things  to 
come.  Those  who  had  left  home  unprepared  for  such  an 
emergency  made  no  little  complaint,  while  those  who 
had  brought  blankets  with  them,  were  inclined  to  mani- 
fest an  undue  appreciation  of  their  own  wisdom  and  fore- 
sight. Eager  to  learn  their  new  duties,  the  men  were 
constantly  drilled  in  that  part  of  the  school  of  the  soldier 
which  comprehends  what  ought  to  be  taught  recruits 
without  arms. 

The  twenty-seventh  day  of  August,  1862,  was  made 
memorable  by  the  appearance  of  the  mustering  officer, 
Captain  S.  A.  Wainwright,  of  the  Thirteenth  United 
States  Infantry.  On  his  arrival  the  boisterous  drums 
sounded  the  assembly,  and  that  splendid  body  of  nearly 
one  thousand  gallant  men  fell  into  line  for  the  first  time 
and  became  a  regiment.  The  long  line  was  formed  with 
little  delay  and  an  inspection  held,  few  being  rejected  and 
those  in  almost  every  instance  on  account  of  being  over 
or  under  the  age  limit  for  service  in  the  army.  After  the 
surgeons  had  completed  their  examination  of  the  physi- 
cal qualifications  of  the  men,  the  process  of  muster-in 
was  proceeded  with.  And  as  these  stalwart  men  stood 
there,  with  uplifted  hands,  and  swore  to  serve  their  coun- 
try "for  three  years  unless  sooner  discharged,"  it  was 
indeed  an  impressive  spectacle ;  a  scene  that  will  never  be 
wholly  forgotten  by  the  participants  who  still  survive. 

The  companies  having  elected  their  officers  previous 
to  their  arrival  in  camp,  the  line  officers  repaired  immedi- 
ately after  the  muster-in,  to  a  large  tent  to  complete  the 
organization  of  the  regiment  by  the  election  of  field  offi- 


20  HISTORY  OF  THE  8STH  ILLINOIS. 

cers.  At  this  meeting  the  field  officers  were  elected  and 
the  appointment  of  staff  officers  agreed  upon.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  list  of 

THE  FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

Colonel — Robert  S.  Moore,  of  Havana,  Mason  County. 

Lieutenant-Colonel — Caleb  J.  Dilworth,  of  Havana,  Mason 
County. 

Major — S.  P.  Cummings,  of  Astoria,  Fulton  County. 

Adjutant — John  B.  Wright,  of  Havana,  Mason  County. 

Quartermaster — Samuel  F.  Wright,  of  Havana,  Mason  County. 

Surgeon — James  P.  Walker,  of  Mason  City,  Mason  County. 

First  Assistant  Surgeon — Philip  L.  Dieffenbacher,  of  Havana, 
Mason  County. 

Second  Assistant  Surgeon — James  C.  Patterson,  of  Mason  City, 
Mason  County. 

Chaplain — Joseph  S.  Barwick,  of  Havana,  Mason  County. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF. 

Sergeant-Major — Clark  N.  Andrews,  of  Havana,  Mason  County. 

Quartermaster-Sergeant — James  T.  Pierce,  of  Havana,  Mason 
County. 

Commissary  Sergeant — Thomas  J.  Avery,  of  Bath,  Mason 
County. 

Hospital  Steward — James  L.  Hastings,  of  Mason  City,  Mason 
County. 

Principal  Musician — John  Hazlengg,  of  Bath,  Mason  County. 

According  to  the  system  of  infantry  tactics  in  use 
at  this  time,  a  regiment  was  composed  of  ten  companies 
to  be  habitually  posted  from  right  to  left  in  the  following 
order :  A,  F,  D,  I,  C,  H,  E,  K,  G,  B,  in  accordance  with 
the  rank  of  captains.  Under  this  provision  of  tactics, 
the  honor  of  bearing  the  colors  belonged  to  Company  C. 
But  for  some  reason  unknown  to  the  writer,  the  compan- 
ies were  posted  in  the  line  of  the  Eighty-fifth,  beginning 
with  A  on  the  right  and  running  in  consecutive  order  to 
K  on  the  left.  Under  this  arrangement,  which  was  quite 


CALEB  J.    DILWORTH, 


21 


OF 


UNIFORMS  AND  ARMS  SUPPLIED.  23 

unusual.  Company  E  occupied  the  right  center,  and  be- 
came the  color  company.  This  formation  was  continued 
throughout  the  service. 

On  Thursday,  August  28th,  clothing  was  issued; 
each  soldier  receiving  a  dark  blue  blouse,  sky  blue  pants, 
woolen  shirts  and  socks,  cotton  drawers,  a  forage  cap, 
blanket  and  a  pair  of  shoes.  This  made  a  neat  and  com- 
fortable uniform,  which  proved  so  well  suited  to  the  ser- 
vice that  its  use  was  continued,  with  but  one  change, 
throughout  the  war.  The  forage  cap  afforded  such 
slight  protection  in  either  sunshine  or  storm,  that  it  soon 
gave  way  to  the  black  felt  hat.  The  next  day,  light  blue 
overcoats  of  the  regulation  pattern,  with  capes,  were 
issued,  and  each  soldier  received  a  kflapsack  and  canteen. 
In  the  afternoon,  muster  rolls  having  been  prepared, 
each  company  was  marched  to  headquarters  and  $13  paid 
to  each  member  by  the  paymaster.  This  payment  was 
made  in  carrying  out  a  promise  made  the  men  at  enlist- 
ment, that  each  should  receive  one  month's  pay  in  ad- 
vance. 

On  Friday,  September  5th,  arms  and  accoutrements 
were  received  and  issued  to  the  companies.  The  arms 
were  the  Enfield  rifled  muskets,  and  were  as  good  a 
weapon  as  was  then  in  general  use.  The  Eighty-fifth 
was  considered  very  fortunate  in  securing  new  Enfields, 
especially  so  considered  by  the  members  of  the  regiment, 
of  whom  there  were  quite  a  number  who  had  seen  pre- 
vious service.  Almost  every  regiment  entering  the  ser- 
vice in  1861  was  armed  with  old  Austrian  or  Belgian 
muskets;  doubtless  the  most  unreliable  and  dangerous 
firearm  ever  invented.  And  among  the  terrors  of  the 
first  year's  service,  these  men  always  remembered  the: 


24  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

uncertain  action  and  the  diabolic  antics  of  those  infernal 
guns. 

From  the  first  the  men  had  been  kept  almost  con- 
stantly on  the  drill  ground,  and  as  all  were  anxious  to 
learn,  some  progress  was  made  in  the  school  of  the  sold- 
ier. They  had  learned  to  step  in  time,  and  to  march  by 
squad  and  company.  Eagerly  they  had  awaited  their 
arms  and  accoutrements,  and  now,  everyone  expected 
that  a  few  days  at  least  could  be  devoted  to  drill  in  the 
manual  of  arms  before  leaving  the  camp  of  instruction. 
But  the  pressing  need  of  more  troops  at  the  front  allowed 
the  men  of  the  Eighty-fifth  but  one  day  in  which  to  drill 
in  the  manual  of  arms. 

The  brief  stay  in  camp  at  Peoria  had  been  profitably 
employed,  and  calls  up  few  but  pleasant  memories. 
Nearly  all  had  suffered  more  or  less  from  colds  incident 
to  a  change  from  the  comforts  of  home  to  the  outdoor 
life  of  the  camp,  and  the  radical  change  of  diet  had 
affected  some  unfavorably.  But  few,  however,  had  been 
sent  to  the  building  outside  the  camp  grounds,  over 
which  floated  the  yellow  hospital  flag.  Of  those  sent  to 
the  hospital,  James  Grant,  private  of  Company  K,  died 
there  on  September  8th,  his  being  the  first  death  in  the 
regiment. 

While  more  time  was  sadly  needed  for  instruction, 
and  officers  and  men  alike  felt  the  need  of  it,  yet  all  were 
ready  and  anxious  to  go  to  the  assistance  of  their  brave, 
hard-pressed  comrades  who  had  gone  to  battle  for  the 
Union  in  the  year  gone  by.  They  wanted  to  bear  a  hand 
in  turning  back  the  tide  of  invasion  now  threatening 
northern  homes,  and  their  opportunity  was  now  at  hand. 
A  series  of  disasters  had  overtaken  our  armies  while  the 


OFF  FOR  THE  SOUTH.  25 

regiment  had  been  forming;  the  Army  of  the  East  had 
been  routed  from  the  front  of  the  rebel  capital ;  Lee  with 
his  victorious  army  was  already  on  northern  soil,  and  the 
advance  of  Bragg's  army  had  arrived  within  striking  dis- 
tance of  both  Louisville  and  Cincinnati. 


CHAPTER  III. 


At  about  nine  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning,  Septem- 
ber 7th,  1862,  the  Eighty-fifth  Regiment  Illinois  Volun- 
teer Infantry  marched  out  of  its  camp  at  Peoria  and  down 
through  the  main  street  of  the  city  to  the  railway  station. 
The  day  was  bright  and  clear,  and  although  the  ringing 
church  bells  were  calling  the  people  to  worship  the 
Prince  of  Peace,  the  patriotic  citizens  crowded  the  line 
of  march  to  cheer  and  speed  the  departing  soldiers. 
There  was  but  little  delay  at  the  depot,  and  about  one 
o'clock,  or  a  little  later,  a  start  was  made  for  Louisville, 
Kentucky.  The  trip  was  made  without  incident  or  acci- 
dent of  especial  note.  Lafayette,  Indiana,  was  reached 
at  about  eight  o'clock  the  next  morning,  and  Indianapo- 
lis at  six  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  at  two  o'clock  on 
Tuesday  morning,  September  gth,  the  regiment  arrived 
at  Jeffersonville.  The  men  were  very  tired  with  the  long 
ride  in  the  crowded  cars.  Few  had  slept  in  all  the  pre- 
vious night,  as  there  were  two  in  every  seat,  and  all  were 
glad  to  change  from  the  crowded  cars  to  the  ground  for 
a  short  rest.  About  noon  the  regiment  crossed  the  Ohio 
river,  and  marched  through  Louisville  to  the  southern 
limits  of  the  city,  where  it  went  into  camp.  The  day 


26  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

was  hot,  the  streets  dusty,  and  the  men  were  very  much 
fatigued,  although  the  distance  marched  was  not  great. 

Notwithstanding  the  alleged  neutrality  of  Kentucky, 
the  regiment  was  now  in  Dixie.  In  the  city  the  people 
were  laboring  under  the  most  intense  excitement. 
Among  the  citizens  every  shade  of  opinion  prevailed 
from  that  held  by  the  most  devoted  loyalist  to  that  of  the 
most  pronounced  secessionist,  and  on  the  day  following 
the  arrival  of  the  regiment  martial  law  was  proclaimed. 

Wednesday,  September  lotfi,  was  full  of  hard  work, 
the  day  being  spent  in  squad  and  company  drill,  particu- 
lar attention  being  paid  to  the  manual  of  arms,  the  work 
ending  with  a  dress  parade.  Dress  parade  was  a  new 
experience  to  nearly  all  of  the  officers  and  men,  but  the 
regiment  made  a  fairly  creditable  appearance.  In  the 
afternoon  of  the  next  day  a  heavy  thunder  storm  sud- 
denly broke  upon  the  camp.  The  high  wind  leveled 
many  of  the  tents  to  the  ground,  while  the  downpour  of 
rain  thoroughly  drenched  the  men  and  the  entire  outfit 
of  the  camp. 


The  insurgents  having  forced  into  their  armies  all  the 
able-bodied  men  in  the  South,  were  now  exerting  their 
full  strength  against  the  Federal  line.  After  a  series  of 
bloody  defeats,  accompanied  with  heavy  loss,  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  had  been  driven  from  the  peninsula  in 
Virginia,  and  was  now  about  to  engage  in  a  deadly  con- 
flict with  the  flushed  victorious  enemy,  on  soil  dedicated 
to  freedom  and  far  to  the  north  of  the  National  Capital. 
On  August  1 7th,  a  part  of  Bragg's  army  under  General 
Kirby  Smith  turned  the  Union  force  out  of  Cumberland 
Gap.  Whereupon  the  Union  commander  blew  up  his 


THE)  DANGER  THREATENING  LOUISVILLE.  27 

elaborate  fortifications,  abandoned  his  heavy  artillery, 
destroyed  his  stores,  and  began  a  hasty  and  disastrous 
retreat.  After  capturing  detachments  of  Union  troops 
on  garrison  duty  at  various  posts,  the  rebel  column  of 
invasion  encountered  a  green  Union  force  at  Richmond 
Kentucky,  which  had  been  hurriedly  concentrated  to 
oppose  the  rebel  advance.  A  fight  ensued,  in  which  the 
Union  troops  were  driven  back  on  reinforcements  under 
Major  General  William  Nelson,  who  assumed  command, 
but  a  rebel  victory  had  already  been  won.  The  Union 
troops  were  dispersed,  and  General  Nelson  wounded, 
while  his  army  lost  nine  pieces  of  artillery  and  many  pris- 
oners. The  Confederate  general  set  forward  for  Lexing- 
ton, which  he  entered  on  September  ist,  amid  the  frantic 
acclamations  of  the  rebel  sympathisers  of  that  intensely 
disloyal  region.  He  moved  on  through  Paris  to  Cynthi- 
ana,  and  threw  his  advance  well  out  toward  Cincinnati. 

Meanwhile  General  Bragg  with  the  main  body  of  the 
Confederate  army  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  above 
Chattanooga,  passed  to  the  left  of  the  Union  army,  and 
pushed  into  Kentucky.  This  compelled  General  Buel  to 
abandon  the  whole  of  Tennessee  except  a  small  district  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  Nashville,  and  hasten  by  forced 
marches  to  the  defense  of  the  line  of  the  Ohio  river. 
Louisville,  with  its  immense  resources,  was  the  immedi- 
ate object  of  this  gigantic  raid,  while  the  capture  of  Cin- 
cinnati and  other  northern  cities  was  considered  possible 
— even  probable,  by  the  enthusiastic  followers  of  the 
rebel  chief.  The  near  approach  of  the  Confederate  army 
filled  the  rebel  citizens  in  the  city  with  high  hopes,  while 
many  of  the  loyalists  fled  for  refuge  to  various  points 
north  of  the  Ohio. 


28  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

General  Nelson  was  assigned  to  command  the  army 
forming  at  Louisville,  and  although  suffering  from  a 
wound  received  at  Richmond,  his  energetic  action  re- 
stored order,  and  the  air  of  dejection  soon  disappeared. 
With  the  arrival  of  almost  every  boat  and  train  came  new 
troops,  who  were  rapidly  formed  into  brigades  and  divis- 
ions for  the  defense  of  the  city.  The  troops  that  escaped 
from  the  battle  at  Richmond  began  to  appear  by  this 
time,  and  the  opportunity  for  capturing  the  city  was 
numbered  among  the  lost  hopes  of  the  southern  people. 


On  Friday,  September  I2th,  the  Eighty-sixth  Regi- 
ment, Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  arrived.  It  had  camped 
near  the  Eighty-fifth  at  Peoria,  and  was  mustered  in  by 
Captain  Wainwright  on  the  same  day.  There  was  the 
usual  Sunday  morning  inspection  on  the  I4th,  and  on  the 
1 5th  a  brigade  was  formed,  composed  of  the  Eighty-fifth, 
the  Eighty-sixth  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth 
Regiments,  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry,  the  Fifty-second 
Regiment,  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry,  and  Battery  I,  Sec- 
ond Illinois  Light  Artillery,  and  designated  as  the 
Thirty-Sixth  Brigade.  The  brigade  thus  formed  had 
quite  an  unusual  experience,  in  that  these  regiments  and 
this  battery  remained  together  until  mustered  out  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  the  only  change  in  its  composition  being 
the  addition  of  small  regiments  toward  the  close  of  the 
service.  Colonel  Daniel  McCook,  of  the  Fifty-second 
Ohio,  being  the  ranking  colonel,  took  command  of  the 
brigade  by  virtue  of  seniority,  holding  the  position  until 
mortally  wounded  while  leading  the  command  in  a  des- 
perate charge.  The  brigade  moved  at  an  early  hour 
through  the  city,  and  passed  in  review  before  the  com- 


THE  FIRST  LONG  ROLL.  29 

manding  general.  The  day  was  hot,  the  streets  dusty, 
and  the  men  were  very  tired  when  they  reached  camp  at 
six  o'clock  in  the  evening. 

On  the  1 8th  the  brigade  was  engaged  in  throwing  up 
a  line  of  entrenchments,  the  line  running  through  the 
suburbs  of  the  city.  The  next  day  the  regiment  was 
held  in  readiness  to  march  at  any  moment,  with  two 
days'  rations  in  the  haversacks.  On  the  2Oth  the  Eighty- 
fifth  moved  out  on  the  turnpike,  some  ten  miles  toward 
Bardstown,  returning  to  camp  on  the  evening  of  the 
22nd.  No  event  of  importance  transpired  on  the  march, 
but  the  trip  was  useful  in  seasoning  the  men  for  the 
longer  marches  soon  to  come. 

On  Tuesday,  September  23rd,  at  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  there  was  a  call  to  arms,  and  the  brigade 
marched  to  the  entrenchments,  where  it  remained  under 
arms  throughout  the  day. 

In  the  afternoon  General  Nelson  reviewed  the  line, 
and  urged  the  importance  of  firing  low  in  case  of  an  at- 
tack. The  regiment  spent  the  next  day  on  picket,  some 
distance  out,  returning  to  the  entrenched  line  in  the 
evening,  when  the  men  were  instructed  to  occupy  near- 
by houses  for  the  night. 

On  the  26th  the  regiment  returned  to  camp,  packed 
up  the  camp  outfit,  and  moved  into  the  city.  Judged  by 
the  appearance  and  smell  of  this  camp,  it  had  recently 
been  occupied  as  a  horse  or  mule  yard.  The  next  day 
the  camp  was  unusually  dull  until  well  along  in  the  after- 
noon, when  a  captain  of  one  of  the  companies,  doubtless 
impelled  by  a  sense  of  duty,  undertook  to  discipline  his 
first  lieutenant.  Then  a  breach  of  the  peace  occurred  in 
which  the  captain  prevailed  and  the  lieutenant  was  thor- 


30  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

oughly  disciplined  in  fact,  if  not  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions  of  army  regulations. 

The  veterans  of  General  Buel's  army  were  now  arriv- 
ing, and  within  a  few  days  that  splendid  body  of  trained 
soldiers  were  located  in  camps  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  city.  They  had  made  a  race  with  the  rebel  army 
under  Bragg  from  the  Tennessee  to  the  Ohio ;  had  won 
the  race,  and  were  now  eager  to  be  led  against  their  old- 
time  foe.  Nor  had  they  long  to  wait,  as  immediate 
preparations  were  made  for  taking  the  field  against  the 
enemy,  who  was  known  to  be  at  Bardstown,  only  thirty 
miles  away. 

On  Monday  morning,  September  29th,  the  startling 
intelligence  was  brought  to  the  camp  of  the  Eighty-fifth 
that  General  Nelson  had  been  shot  and  killed  at  the  Gait 
House,  and  a  detachment  from  the  regiment  was  hur- 
riedly sent  to  the  hotel  for  guard  duty.  The  following 
account  of  the  tragedy  is  condensed  from  reports  cur- 
rent at  the  time,  and  is  believed  to  be  substantially  cor- 
rect. About  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  Brigadier 
General  Jefferson  C.  Davis  met  General  Nelson  in  the 
office  of  the  Gait  House  and  presented  some  grievance. 
A  controversy  ensued  in  which  Nelson,  after  applying  an 
insulting  epithet  to  Davis,  slapped  him  in  the  face. 
Whereupon  Davis,  who  was  unarmed,  borrowed  a  pistol 
from  a  by-stander  and  shot  Nelson,  who  died  within  a 
few  minutes  of  the  shooting.  General  Nelson  was  a 
man  of  powerful  build,  in  perfect  health,  six  feet  two 
inches  in  height,  and  weighing  over  two  hundred 
pounds,  while  General  Davis  was  a  small  man,  less  than 
five  feet  ten  inches  in  height,  and  weighing  only  about 
one  hundred  and  twenty-five  pounds. 


THE  KENTUCKY  CAMPAIGN.  31 

General  Nelson  had  been  in  command  of  the  depart- 
ment until  the  arrival  of  General  Buel  on  the  25th.  He 
was  bred  a  sailor,  and  was  holding  a  commission  in  the 
military  service,  although  an  officer  in  the  navy.  In- 
tensely loyal  to  his  country,  he  was  among  the  first  to 
organize  by  his  individual  exertion  a  military  force  in 
Kentucky,  his  native  state,  to  rescue  her  from  the  vortex 
of  rebellion,  toward  which  she  was  rapidly  drifting.  Un- 
fortunately for  himself  and  his  country,  he  was  arbitrary, 
overbearing,  and  his  outbursts  of  temper  made  him  many 
enemies.  So  totally  unfitted  for  the  command  of  volun- 
teer soldiers  was  he,  that  it  may  well  be  doubted  whether 
his  violent  end  caused  mourning  in  a  single  breast 
among  the  rank  and  file  of  the  army. 

General  Davis,  after  serving  in  the  war  with  Mexico, 
entered  the  regular  army,  and  was  a  lieutenant  under 
Major  Anderson  at  Fort  Sumter,  when  it  was  bom- 
barded. At  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  War  he  led  the 
Twenty-second  Indiana  to  the  field,  and  was  soon  pro- 
moted brigadier  general.  He  commanded  a  division  at 
the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge  with  conspicuous  skill  and  gal- 
lantry. He  was  arrested  for  the  killing  of  Nelson,  but 
was  never  tried.  The  writer  has  always  understood  that, 
but  for  this  lamentable  affair,  General  Davis  would  have 
been  assigned  to  command  the  division  of  which  the 
Thirty-sixth  Brigade  was  a  part  in  the  coming  campaign. 
A  year  later  he  assumed  command  of  the  division,  and 
finally  commanded  the  corps  to  which  the  brigade  was 
attached,  and  officers  and  men  learned  to  admire  the  skill 
with  which  he  handled  his  troops. 

The  brigades  of  new  troops  that  had  been  hurried  to 
the  defense  of  Louisville  were  distributed  among  the 


32  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

veteran  divisons  of  Bud's  army,  and  the  army  thus  re- 
cruited, was  divided  into  three  corps,  designated  the 
First,  Second,  and  Third,  commanded  by  Generals 
McCook,  Crittenden,  and  Gilbert  respectively.  The 
Thirty-sixth  Brigade  was  assigned  to  a  division  under 
command  of  Brigadier  General  P.  H.  Sheridan,  in  Gil- 
bert's Corps. 

The  twenty  days  spent  in  Louisville  were  of  great  ad- 
vantage to  the  new  regiment.  The  men  became  accus- 
tomed to  camp  life ;  much  of  the  time  was  spent  in  drill, 
and  something  was  learned  in  marching  and  picket  duty. 
The  regiment  was  weakened  by  sickness  during  the 
month,  and  quite  a  number  had  to  be  left  in  the  general 
hospital  when  the  command  entered  upon  the  Kentucky 
campaign.  The  deaths  at  Louisville  were:  Henry 
Howell,  of  Company  A ;  Robert  Driver,  of  Company  F, 
and  William  Cunningham,  of  Company  H. 

On  Tuesday  morning,  September  3oth,  1862,  Gen- 
eral Buel's  army  of  about  60,000  men  moved  out  of 
Louisville,  and  the  advance  began.  Bragg's  army  num- 
bered about  40,000  men,  the  greater  part  being  in  posi- 
tion at  Bardstown.  Many  delays  occurred  during  the 
day,  and  the  Eighty-fifth  camped  for  the  night  within 
one  mile  of  the  city.  On  the  first  of  October  the  com- 
mand moved  very  slowly,  passing  through  a  fine  country, 
on  very  dusty  .roads.  After  reaching  camp  the  Eighty- 
fifth,  with  the  brigade  battery,  was  thrown  out  on  picket 
a  mile  and  a  half  in  advance  of  the  camp.  During  the 
night  enough  rain  fell  to  soak  the  men's  blankets,  and 
the  next  morning  the  regiment  resumed  the  march  with- 
out breakfast.  A  series  of  skirmishes  commenced  within 
a  few  miles  of  Louisville,  which  constantly  increased  until 


THE  KENTUCKY  CAMPAIGN.  33 

the  cautious  advance  of  the  army  reached  Bardstown  on 
October  5th,  when  it  was  found  that  the  enemy  had 
retreated.  The  regiment  passed  through  that  town  on 
Sunday,  and  camped  that  night  on  Rolling  Fork,  a 
stream  some  six  miles  beyond  Bardstown.  A  timid 
advance,  which  could  scarcely  be  called  a  pursuit,  was 
continued  on  the  6th  and  7th,  the  regiment  passing 
through  Fredericktown,  Springfield,  Texas  and  Hunts- 
ville,  and  on  the  7th  Gilbert's  corps,  which  was  in  the 
center,  closed  down  on  the  enemy,  who  was  concentrated 
and  ready  for  battle  in  a  position  of  his  own  choice  near 
Perryville. 

The  season  had  been  very  dry,  the  roads  were  dusty, 
the  weather  hot,  and  water  was  so  scarce  that  the  troops 
had  suffered  exceedingly.  Men  became  so  thirsty  that 
it  was  no  unusual  sight  to  see  them  spread  their  handker- 
chiefs over  stagnant  pools,  covered  with  scum,  and  slake 
their  thirst  with  the  water  thus  filtered.  The  brigade 
arrived  at  the  front  about  eleven  o'clock  in  the  night  of 
the  7th,  and  the  men  lay  down,  without  water,  in  line  of 
battle  for  such  rest  as  might  be  had  on  the  eve  of  their 
first  battle. 


34  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          October,  1862. 

CHAPTER  IV. 


On  Wednesday,  October  8th,  at  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  the  men  were  quietly  aroused  from  their  brief 
sleep,  and  the  brigade  began  the  advance,  with  the 
Eighty-fifth  in  front.  During  the  night  some  pools  of 
still  water  were  discovered  in  the  bed  of  Doctor's  creek, 
a  tributary  of  Chaplin  river,  and  the  advance  was  made 
for  the  purpose  of  seizing  a  range  of  hills  beyond  the 
stream,  with  a  view  of  securing  a  supply  of  water.  It 
was  very  dark  and  absolute  silence  was  enjoined,  and 
while  the  regiment  was  marching  by  the  right  flank,  the 
enemy's  pickets  opened  fire  from  a  position  just  beyond 
the  creek.  At  once  our  skirmishers  rushed  forward, 
supported  by  the  entire  regiment,  and  after  a  short,  sharp 
fight,  Peter's  Hill  was  carried,  and  before  daylight  our 
line  was  firmly  established  and  a  limited  supply  of  bad 
water  was  obtained. 

In  front  was  an  open  field,  with  heavy  timber  beyond, 
while  timber  and  thick  underbrush  extended  well  toward 
the  left  of  the  regiment.  About  sunrise  the  enemy 
formed  a  column  of  infantry  and  artillery  in  this  woods, 
and  sent  it  forward,  covered  by  a  cloud  of  skirmishers, 
to  retake  the  position  from  which  the  Eighty-fifth  had 
driven  him.  His  artillery  opened  with  spherical  case, 
which  made  it  exceedingly  uncomfortable  for  the  regi- 
ment for  a  time,  as  it  could  not  reply.  But  as  soon  as 
the  brigade  battery  could  be  brought  up,  the  guns  of  the 
enemy  were  silenced,  and  a  few  volleys  cleared  the  field 
in  front.  Still  the  rebel  force  in  the  underbrush  to  the 
left  kept  up  a  very  annoying  fire,  until  the  Second  Mis- 


October,  1862.  THE  BATTLE  OF  PERRYVILLE.  35 

souri  Infantry  moved  across  the  front  under  General 
Sheridan's  direction,  charged  into  and  cleared  the 
thicket.  This  regiment,  contrary  to  the  usual  equip- 
ment, was  armed  with  the  sword  bayonet,  and  met  with 
heavy  loss  in  this  charge.  After  his  efforts  to  retake  the 
lost  position  had  been  repulsed,  the  enemy  remained  in- 
active on  this  part  of  his  line  for  some  three  hours  or 
more. 

The  day  was  clear  and  the  range  of  hills  just  beyond 
Doctor's  creek  afforded  a  fine  view  of  the  valley  of  that 
stream  extending  northeast  to  Chaplin  river.  In  this 
valley  were  small  farms,  the  homes  of  a  peaceful  com- 
munity, unused  to  the  'bloody  scenes  about  to  be  enacted 
in  its  midst.  Fields,  from  which  the  wheat  had  been 
gathered,  now  rank  with  ragweed.  Corn  standing  in 
the  shock,  orchards  that  had  yielded  up  their  mellow 
fruit,  and  the  timbered  ridges  which  here  and  there  ex- 
tended into  the  valley  from  the  west — all  these  were  to 
be  swept  and  torn  before  night  by  the  hurricane  of  war. 

About  ten  o'clock  the  advance  of  McCook's  corps 
arrived  in  the  valley,  and  from  the  elevated  position 
occupied  by  the  Eighty-fifth,  his  troops  could  be  seen  as 
they  came  into  line  of  battle  across  the  foot-hills,  without 
a  shot  being  fired.  When  the  First  corps  deployed  there 
remained  but  the  usual  interval  between  McCook's  right 
and  the  left  of  the  Thirty-sixth  brigade.  But  suddenly, 
and  without  warning,  the  enemy,  who  nad  been  con- 
cealed in  the  heavy  timber  in  his  front  and  east  of  the 
creek,  made  a  furious  attack  along  his  entire  line,  and 
about  one  o'clock  the  Thirty-sixth  brigade  started  to 
his  assistance.  It  had  not  gone  far,  however,  when  the 
enemy  advanced  again  to  assault  and  carry  the  line  of 


36  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.         October,  1862. 

hills  the  brigade  had  seized  in  the  morning,  and  quickly 
returning  under  orders,  the  command  resumed  its 
former  position. 

The  recall  of  the  brigade  was  most  opportune,  for  no 
sooner  had  it  returned  to  its  original  line,  than  the  enemy 
opened  with  two  batteries,  under  cover  of  which  his 
assaulting  column  began  the  advance.  To  this  fire  the 
batteries  of  the  division  at  once  responded,  and  for  a  time 
there  was  a  well-sustained  artillery  duel.  Soon,  how- 
ever, our  batteries  turned  their  attention  to  the  advanc- 
ing lines  of  infantry,  using  shell  at  first,  then  case  and 
canister.  This  did  not  check  the  determined  advance, 
and  when  the  enemy  came  within  short  musket  range 
our  batteries  ceased  firing;  the  infantry  advanced  and 
poured  into  the  rebel  ranks  a  most  destructive  fire.  The 
action  was  short,  sharp  and  decisive.  The  rebel  lines 
wavered  for  a  moment  and  the  next  found  the  enemy  in 
full  retreat.  During  the  action  Carlin's  brigade  of 
Mitchell's  division  arrived  on  the  right  of  Sheridan; 
wheeled  partly  to  the  left;  struck  the  retreating  enemy 
in  the  flank,  and  pursued  him  beyond  Perryville.  In 
this  pursuit  Carlin  captured  two  caissons,  an  ammunition 
train  of  fifteen  wagons,  and  a  train  guard  of  one  hundred 
and  thirty-eight  men. 

As  soon  as  the  enemy  was  driven  from  Sheridan's 
front,  his  batteries  were  turned  upon  the  masses  of  the 
enemy  now  surging  against  the  right  of  McCook's 
corps.  No  longer  menaced  by  the  enemy  on  their  own 
front,  the  men  of  the  Thirty-sixth  brigade  had  an  unob- 
structed view  of  the  terrible  battle  ranging  along  the 
front  of  the  First  corps.  The  quiet  rural  scene  of  the 
morning,  whereon  they  had  watched  McCook  set  his 


October,  1862.          THE  BATTLE  OF  PERRYVILLE.  37 

troops  in  battle  array  without  a  sound  of  strife,  now  rilled 
with  flame  and  fury,  had  become  a  veritable  valley  of 
death.  The  shells  from  our  batteries  could  be  seen  tear- 
ing through  the  masses  of  the  enemy,  or  bursting  in  the 
midst  of  his  serried  column,  as  he  recklessly  charged  the 
Union  line.  The  fleecy  smoke  rose  from  the  batteries 
of  friend  and  foe  and  hung  in  the  palpitating  air.  The 
spiteful  puffs  from  the  file  firing  marked  the  infantry  line, 
while  far  to  the  rear  a  burning  barn,  fired  by  rebel  shells, 
appeared.  In  full  view,  the  wounded  who  were  still  able 
to  walk,  were  drifting  to  the  rear,  while  the  stretcher 
bearers  bore  the  more  severely  wounded  back  from  the 
blue  line,  so  stubbornly  contesting  every  inch  of  the 
ground.  So  the  battle  ebbed  and  flowed,  until  darkness 
closed  the  eventful  day  upon  a  never-to-be-forgotten 
scene ;  one  which  neither  tongue  nor  pen  can  adequately 
describe. 

The  determined  resistance  made  by  McCook's  corps, 
aided  by  the  batteries  of  Sheridan's  division,  and  the 
arrival  of  fresh  troops,  prevented  the  enemy  from  pursu- 
ing his  advantage  to  a  successful  conclusion.  His  plan 
was  rendered  abortive ;  no  definite  results  were  obtained 
by  his  desperate  fighting,  and  as  soon  as  darkness  inter- 
vened he  retreated,  leaving  the  fielcl  with  his  killed  and 
wounded  in  possession  of  the  Union  army.  The  enemy 
abandoned  the  field  so  quietly  that  his  retreat  was  not 
known  until  the  advance  began  at  daylight  on  the  next 
morning. 

The  losses  in  the  Eighty-fifth  were  less  in  number 
than  might  have  been  expected,  considering  the  work 
accomplished,  but  more  than  were  sustained  by  any 
other  regiment  in  the  Thirty-sixth  brigade.  According 


38  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.         October,  1862. 

to  a  table  published  in  the  Rebellion  Records,*  the  bri- 
gade loss  was :  Seven  killed ;  63  wounded,  and  9  miss- 
ing,— total,  79.  In  this  same  table,  which  purports  to 
be  a  revised  list,  the  loss  in  the  Eighty-fifth  is  given  as 
5  killed,  38  wounded  and  9  missing.  Assistant  Surgeon 
P.  L/.  Dieffenbacher  has  kindly  furnished  the  names  of 
the  killed  and  wounded,  but  as  his  list  shows  the  number 
wounded  to  be  less  than  the  revised  list  published  in  the 
War  Records,  we  must  conclude  that  several  men  were 
slightly  wounded  who  did  not  report  to  the  surgeon.  It 
is  not  possible  to  give  the  names  of  such,  nor  is  it  possible 
to  give  the  names  of  the  missing.  The  following  are  the 
names  of  killed  and  wounded,  according  to  the  list  fur- 
nished the  writer  by  Surgeon  Dieffenbacher : 

COMPANY  A. 

KILLED — Corporal  Benjamin  White,  Lemuel  Y.  Nash. 
WOUNDED — First    Sergeant    Albert  G.  Beebe,  Sergeant    Daniel 
Havens,  William    D.  Blizzard,  Gibson  Bass,  and  William    M. 
Thompson. 

COMPANY  B. 

WOUNDED— Lieutenant  Charles  W.  Pierce,  Thomas  M.  Bell,  Ben- 
jamin F.  Kratzer,  Ellis  Southwood. 

COMPANY  C. 

KILLED— Henry  Shay,  Orlando  Stewart. 

WOUNDED— Sergeant  John  H.  Duvall,  James  S.  Chester,  Chan- 
ning  Clark,  William  Newberry,  Jonathan  P.  Temple. 

COMPANY  D. 

KILLED — Sergeant  Freman  Brought. 
WOUNDED— William  Davis. 

COMPANY  E. 
WOUNDED— William  F.  Allen,  Royal  A.  Clary,  James  Lynn. 

COMPANY  G. 
WOUNDED— John  Aten. 


*  Vol.  LXVI,  page  1036,  Rebellion  Records. 


ROBERT   G.   RIDER. 

MAJOR. 


tn  m 
UNIYERSm  of  ILLINOIS 


October,  1862.          THE  BATTLE  OF  PERRYVILLE.  41 

COMPANY  H. 

WOUNDED — Henry  Bloomfield,  Marion  Horton,  Solomon  Meyers, 
Lemuel  J.  Sayres,  Daniel  Worley. 

COMPANY  I. 

WOUNDED — Sergeant  Laban  V.  Tartar,  Corporal  James  Mosland- 
er,  William  Minner,  John  Watson. 

COMPANY  K. 
WOUNDED — Jefferson  Bowers,  Isaac  Fountain. 

When  the  eventful  day  closed,  it  was  with  a  sense  of 
infinite  relief  that  the  tired,  hungry  men  threw  them- 
selves upon  their  blankets  for  rest  and  sleep.  They 
began  the  fight  without  breakfast ;  had  no  dinner,  and 
now  when  night  came  the  arbitrary  orders  of  a  grossly 
incompetent  corps  commander  prevented  the  issue  of 
rations  until  mid-night.  All  had  looked' forward  to  the 
test  of  battle  with  more  or  less  solicitude,  lest  some 
should  fail  to  meet  the  stern  demands  of  duty  when  the 
supreme  hour  of  trial  should  come.  But  the  men — the 
boys — in  the  ranks  had  proved  themselves  true  born 
heroes,  while  the  officers  had  shared  with  them  alike  the 
danger  and  the  glory  of  the  day.  The  Eighty-fifth  had 
established  a  Deputation  for  both  fighting  and  staying 
qualities ;  a  reputation  that  must  be  sustained  in  all  future 
actions,  and  now,  confident  in  themselves  and  in  each 
other,  officers  and  men  awaited  the  coming  of  another 
day. 

At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  Qth,  the  advance 
began  by  moving  the  troops,  not  engaged  the  previous 
day,  against  the  left  of  the  enemy.  This  movement  soon 
developed  the  fact  that  the  enemy  had  retreated  during 
the  night.  Bragg  had  quietly  and  in  good  order  retired, 
leaving  his  killed  and  wounded  on  the  battlefield.  About 


42  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          October,  1862. 

noon  the  Thirty-sixth  brigade  moved  across  the  field 
from  which  the  enemy  had  delivered  his  attack  on 
McCook's  corps,  and  after  a  short  march  camped  at 
Perry ville;  remaining  in  this  camp  throughout  the  loth 
and  nth.  In  the  meantime  burial  parties  gave  the  dead 
of  both  friend  and  foe  decent  burial.  At  places  on  the 
field  the  dead  were  scattered  very  thick ;  bearing  striking 
proof  of  the  deadly  character  of  the  conflict.  The  writer 
remembers  a  point  where  a  Confederate  battery  had  been 
taken  and  retaken.  There  the  Union  and  rebel  dead 
appeared  in  about  equal  numbers,  and  among  them  the 
faithful  horses  that  had  drawn  the  battery  into  action. 

Considering  the  number  of  troops  engaged,  the 
losses  were  severe,  amounting  to  4,348  in  killed, 
wounded  and  missing — more  than  one-fifth  of  the  force 
engaged  on  the  Union  side.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was 
never  known,  but  it  must  have  equaled,  if  it  did  not  ex- 
ceed, ours.  Bragg  in  his  official  report  admits  a  loss  of 
twenty-five  hundred  prisoners,  but  as  fully  4,000  prison- 
ers, consisting  mostly  of  sick  and  wounded,  fell  into  our 
hands,  he  must  have  reported,  as  he  usually  did,  much 
less  than  his  actual  loss. 

Buel  reported  the  strength  of  his  command  before 
the  battle  at  58,000  effective  men ;  less  than  one-half  of 
which  was  brought  into  action.  The  entire  Confederate 
force  in  Kentucky  did  not  exceed  40,000  men,  and  of 
this  force  fully  15,000  men  were  under  Kirby  Smith  near 
Frankfort,  too  far  from  the  battlefield  to  render  Bragg 
any  assistance  whatever.  But  when  the  time  came  for 
striking  a  decisive  blow,  the  Union  commander  failed  to 
use  his  whole  force,  and  the  battle  of  Perryville  furnishes 
a  signal  example  of  lost  opportunities.  Buel  had  a 


October,  1862.          THE  BATTLE  OF  PERRYVILLE.  43 

largely  preponderating  force;  his  men  were  well 
equipped  and  eager  to  be  led  against  the  enemy,  but  he 
utterly  failed  to  rise  to  the  demands  of  the  occasion. 

General  Don  Carlos  Buel  graduated  in  the  class  of 
1841  at  the  West  Point  Military  Academy,  and  served 
in  the  War  with  Mexico,  where  he  was  wounded  and  won 
the  brevet  rank  of  major.  From  1847  to  1861  he  served 
as  assistant  adjutant  general  in  the  regular  army,  and 
his  long  service  in  the  routine  of  a  bureau  office  probably 
unfitted  him  for  handling,  on  the  battlefield,  the  large 
number  of  troops  which  composed  his  command.  After 
finding  the  enemy  and  closing  down  on  his  position  on 
the  evening  of  the  /th,  it  appears  to  have  been  Buel's 
plan  to  spend  the  following  day  in  preparing  to  fight  a 
great  battle  on  the  9th.  But  the  Confederate  com- 
mander disposed  of  that  proposition  by  striking  quick 
and  hard  on  the  8th.  Bragg  was  well  known  to  be  a 
fighting  man,  and  a  breach  of  the  peace  should  have  been 
expected  by  Buel,  as  soon  as  our  army  appeared  within 
the  usual  murdering  distance  of  the  enemy. 

Although  Buel  was  a  soldier  by  education,  he  was 
without  confidence  in  himself  or  in  -the  troops  he  com- 
manded. This  lack  of  confidence  was  mutual,  the  troops 
distrusting  the  ability  of  their  commander — many  going 
to  the  extent  of  questioning  his  loyalty.  This  unfortu- 
nate feeling  was  well  nigh  universal  and  was  shared  alike 
by  both  officers  and  men.  General  Thomas  had  urged 
Buel  to  fight  at  Sparta,  Tennessee,  before  Bragg  entered 
upon  his  gigantic  raid  in  Kentucky.  A  corps  com- 
mander, distinguished  for  his  soldierly  instinct,  severely 
censured  Buel  for  failing  to  attack  the  enemy  at  Glas- 
gow and  other  points,  while  the  two  armies  were  march- 


44  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.         October,  1862. 

ing  on  parallel  roads  in  Kentucky,  so  near  each  other 
that  a  battle  might  have  been  brought  on  if  there  had 
been  any  desire  to  fight.  General  McCook  told  the 
writer  within  a  few  years  that  if  Buel  had  sent  him  any 
one  of  the  five  divisions  standing  idle,  and  in  easy  reach, 
at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  at  Perryville,  he  would 
have  destroyed  .that  part  of  Bragg's  army  with  which  his 
corps  was  engaged. 

In  the  reorganization  of  the  army  at  Louisville,  some 
seemingly  inexcusable  blunders  were  committed.  The 
division  which  General  Thomas,  doubtless  the  most  able 
officer  in  our  army,  composed  of  veterans  he  had  led  so 
long,  was  taken  away  from  him,  and  he  was  named  as 
second  in  command,  which  really  left  this  capable  officer 
without  any  command  whatever.  But  worst  of  all,  by 
some  "hocus  pocus"  unexplained  to  this  day,  Charles 
C.  Gilbert,  who  had  not  then  been  appointed  a  general 
officer  by  the  President,  was  assigned  to  the  command 
of  the  Third  corps.  Without  experience  or  other  quali- 
fication, Gilbert  was  undoubtedly  the  worst  appointment 
to  command  an  army  corps  made  during  the  war.  On 
the  day  of  battle,  in  utter  disregard  of  the  necessities  of 
his  troops,  he  left  the  men  short  of  rations  throughout 
the  day  and  until  late  the  following  night.  Even  then 
his  abritrary  orders  were  only  relaxed  at  the  earnest  so- 
licitation of  General  Sheridan.  Fortunately  for  his  coun- 
try, the  battle  of  Perryville  was  the  first  and  last  appear- 
ance of  this  incompetent  officer  as  a  corps  commander. 

After  three  days  had  been  frittered  away  in  useless 
tactical  manoeuvres,  a  timid  advance  was  resumed  on  the 
1 2th.  The  division  moved  through  Danville  and  Lan- 
caster, where  the  batteries  exchanged  a  few  shots  with 


October,  1862.  THE  BATTLE  OF  PERRYVIIJ,E.  45 

the  rear  guard  of  the  enemy.  But  the  foe  was  quickly 
routed  and  the  march  continued  without  further  inter- 
ruption through  Stanford  to  Crab  Orchard,  where  the 
command  arrived  on  the  evening  of  the  I5th.  Bragg 
had  made  good  his  escape  and  the  invasion  of  Kentucky 
was  ended. 

It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  that  the  campaign  in  Ken- 
tucky caused  the  most  bitter  feeling  in  the  opposing 
armies  against  their  respective  commanders.  But  per- 
haps the  feeling  of  disappointment  was  greatest  among 
the  Confederates,  and  certainly  the  most  difficult  for 
them  to  bear.  They  had  entered  upon  the  Kentucky 
campaign  under  the  promise  of  20,000  recruits  for  the 
rebel  cause,  and  had  brought  guns  along  to  supply  that 
number  of  recruits  with  arms.  But  the  hoped  for  upris- 
ing did  not  occur;  the  arms  were  never  taken  from  the 
wagons,  and  needlessly  encumbered  the  train  of  the  flee- 
ing foe  as  he  returned  to  Tennessee.  General  Bragg 
did  not  consider — so  far  as  the  Confederacy  was  con- 
cerned— that  the  state  was  worth  fighting  for,  and  now, 
disappointed  in  his  scheme  of  conquest,  and  bitterly  cen- 
sured by  his  own  army,  he  made  haste  to  get  beyond  the 
barrier  the  Cumberland  river  was  supposed  to  afford. 

On  Thursday,  the  i6th,  F.  S.  Henfling,  of  Company 
F,  was  accidentally  shot  in  the  leg.  The  regiment  had 
been  out  to  give  the  men  an  opportunity  to  discharge 
their  guns,  and  it  seems  probable  that  some  gun  missed 
fire,  which  may  account  for  the  accident.  The  wound 
proved  fatal,  Henfling  dying  a  few  days  later  in  the  hos- 
pital. 

On  Sunday,  the  iQth,  the  regiment  was  detailed  for 
picket  duty.  Rest  for  the  tired  men  and  animals  had 


46  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  IIJJNOIS.          October,  1862. 

been  the  order  of  the  day  at  Crab  Orchard,  and  the  new 
troops  especially  enjoyed  their  stay  in  that  genial  cli- 
mate. But  the  next  day  orders  were  received  for  a  con- 
centration of  the  army  at  Bowling  Green,  and  in  the 
early  morning  the  regiment  took  up  the  line  of  march 
from  the  picket  line.  After  a  march  of  twenty  miles  the 
regiment  camped  for  the  night  on  a  stream  known  as 
Rolling  Fork.  The  line  of  march  led  the  Thirty-Sixth 
brigade  through  Lebanon,  Parkville,  New  Market  and 
Campbellsville.  A  fall  of  six  inches  of  snow  during  the 
night  and  early  morning  of  the  25th  was  the  only  inci- 
dent that  happened  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  the 
march.  This  was  a  new,  if  not  an  agreeable,  experience 
for  troops  without  tents  or  shelter  of  any  kind. 

On  Saturday,  November  ist,  the  regiment  arrived 
at  Bowling  Green.  That  night  the  tents  which  had  been 
left  at  Louisville,  were  brought  up,  the  mails  arrived  and 
were  distributed,  and  from  letters  and  papers  received 
from  home  the  men  learned  of  the  progress  or  the  war — 
the  fortune  that  had  followed  the  other  armies  in  the 
broad  field.  They  also  learned  without  regret  that  Buel 
had  been  removed.  From  General  Orders  it  appeared 
that  our  army,  heretofore  known  as  the  Army  of  the 
Ohio,  had  been  designated  as  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, under  the  command  of  Major  General  W.  S.  Rose- 
crans. 


November,  1862.  ADVANCE  TO  NASHVILLE.  47 

CHAPTER  V. 


The  dark  and  gloomy  days  in  which  the  Eighty-fifth 
entered  the  field  were  followed,  as  dark  days  usually  are, 
by  brighter  and  more  hopeful  ones.     The  operations  of 
General    Lee   in   Virginia   and    Maryland;   of   General 
Bragg  in    Tennessee  and    Kentucky,  and    of    Generals 
Price  and  VanDorn  in  Northern  Mississippi,  during  the 
summer  and  autumn  of  1862,  covered  the  broadest  field 
and  displayed  the  boldest  aggression  of  the  Confederate 
armies  during  the  war.     For  a  time  the  tide  of  invasion 
ran  high  in  the  east,  where  Lee  pressed  the  Union  army 
back  into  Maryland,  but  at  Antietam  he  met  a  bloody 
defeat  and  his  army  was  forced  to  retire  into  Virginia  to 
defend  the  approaches  to  the  Confederate  Capital.     In 
Kentucky  some  of  the  rebel  rangers  may  have  caught  a 
hasty  glimpse  of  the  Ohio  river,  but  after  the  battle  of 
Perry ville  Bragg  made  haste  to  get  behind  the  moun- 
tains of  Tennessee.     Just  when  General  Bragg  lost  hope 
completely  is  not  revealed,  but  at  the  moment  when  suc- 
cess seemed  within  his  grasp,  his  bold  strategy  failed  and 
he  drifted  about  in  Kentucky  until  expelled  by  a  far  from 
energetic  pursuit.     But  when  Price  and  VanDorn  at- 
tempted to  play  the  role  of  invaders  in  Mississippi,  and 
perform  their  part  in  the  scheme  of  invading  the  North 
the   result  was   different.     Confronting  them  was   the 
small  army  under  General  Grant,  in  positions  chosen 
with  admirable  skill.     And  instead  of  retreating  and  call- 
ing loudly  and  without  ceasing  for  reinforcements,  like 
McClellan  and  Buel,  the  hero  of  Donelson  and  Shiloh 
defeated  the  enemy  at  luka,  routed  him  at  Corinth,  and 


48  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      November,  1862. 

dispersed  the  foe  at  the  Hatchie  river.  Grant  not  only 
did  not  retreat,  but  fixed  more  firmly  than  ever  his  re- 
lentless grasp  on  that  end  of  the  Confederacy. 

But  promising  as  was  the  beginning  of  these  cam- 
paigns to  the  South,  like  all  others  of  similar  character 
throughout  the  war,  actual  accomplishment  fell  far  below 
Southern  expectation.  And  when  General  Lee  retreated 
from  the  battlefield  of  Antietam,  General  Bragg  from 
Perryville,  and  Generals  Price  and_VanDorn  from  luka, 
Corinth  and  the  Hatchie  river,  the  Southern  people  saw 
plainly  that  the  war  was  still  to  bring  desolation  to  their 
homes  and  destruction  to  their  section.  They  realized 
that  their  boldest  strategy  and  the  exertion  of  their  full 
strength  could  only  delay,  but  could  not  permanently 
prevent  the  advance  of  the  Federal  armies.  During 
September  and  October  the  invading  armies  were  driven 
back  within  the  original  limits  of  the  Confederacy,  and 
new  offensive  campaigns  planned,  the  main  one  in  the 
west,  looking  to  the  reconquest  of  Tennessee  and  North- 
ern Alabama,  to  be  executed  by  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland. 

On  Tuesday  morning,  November  4th,  marching 
orders  were  received,  the  destination  being  Nashville, 
Tennessee.  All  soldiers  not  able  to  march  were  sent  to 
the  general  hospital  which  had  been  established  at  Bowl- 
ing Green.  That  evening  the  brigade  camped  a  few 
miles  beyond  Franklin,  and  the  next  day  crossed  the 
state  line  and  camped  at  Mitchellville  in  Sumner  County, 
Tennessee.  Here  the  Eighty-fifth  was  detailed  for  guard 
duty  and  remained  at  Mitchellville  until  noon  on  the  8th, 
when  the  march  was  resumed.  The  regiment  arrived  at 
Edgefield,  a  handsome  suburb  of  Nashville,  at  noon  on 


November,  1862.  ADVANCE  TO  NASHVILLE.  49 

Monday,  the  loth,  and  camped  on  a  plateau  north  of  the 
river  and  just  outside  the  little  town. 

On  Wednesday,  the  I2th,  the  division  was  reviewed 
by  General  Rosecrans,  and  the  men  saw  the  new  army 
commander  for  the  first  time.  The  change  of  command- 
ers was  hailed  with  delight,  and,  while  almost  any  change 
would  have  been  acceptable,  the  appointment  of  Rose- 
crans, fresh  from  his  well-earned  victories  in  Mississippi, 
was  especially  gratifying.  Nor  was  he  long  in  winning 
the  entire  confidence  of  his  new  command. 

On  the  i Qth  there  was  a  detail  made  from  the  Eighty- 
fifth,  under  command  of  Captain  Scott,  to  guard  a  train 
sent  out  for  forage.  This  detail  had  proceeded  some 
sixteen  miles  down  the  Cumberland  river,  when  a  tree, 
suddenly  and  without  warning,  fell  across  one  of  the 
wagons,  instantly  killing  William  S.  Potter  and  William 
Ray,  of  Company  E.  These  men  were  sitting  near  the 
middle  of  the  wagon,  and  others  sitting  in  front  and  rear 
of  them,  in  the  same  wagon,  escaped  wholly  unharmed. 

On  Friday,  the  2ist,  the  Thirty-sixth  brigade  went 
on  a  foraging  expedition.  This  trip,  as  well  as  others 
made  in  the  next  month,  were  made  with  the  full  equip- 
ment necessary  for  fighting  a  battle  if  necessary,  the  bat- 
tery accompanying  the  brigade.  The  expedition  re- 
turned the  next  evening  with  sixty  beef  cattle,  two  hun- 
dred hogs,  seventy-five  sheep,  and  a  large  amount  of  hay 
and  corn. 

On  Saturday,  the  22nd,  the  division  marched 
through  Nashville,  and  out  on  the  Murfreesboro  pike, 
some  seven  miles  to  the  crossing  of  Mill  creek.  At  this 
point  the  Eighty-fifth  camped  near  the  turnpike,  and  on 
the  eastern  slope  of  a  timbered  hill.  On  the  25th  the 


50  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      November,  1862. 

regiment  went  on  picket,  the  outposts  overlooking  the 
valley  of  Mill  creek.  On  the  hills  beyond  the  outposts  the 
enemy  could  be  distinctly  seen.  Bragg  was  concentrat- 
ing the  rebel  army  at  Murfreesboro,  and  had  strong  out- 
posts at  Lavergne,  his  cavalry  pickets  being  advanced  to 
the  south  banks  of  Mill  Creek  valley.  In  the  immediate 
presence  of  the  enemy  it  was  usual  for  one-third  of  the 
command  detailed  for  picket  duty  to  be  kept  on  outpost 
guard,  one-third  kept  awake  and  under  arms  at  the 
reserve  post,  and  one-third  allowed  to  sleep  beside  the 
fires.  The  guards  on  outpost  duty  from  Company  G 
brought  in  two  prisoners  captured  at  a  farm  house  near 
the  line  during  the  day. 

At  Peoria  the  Eighty-fifth  was  supplied  with  large 
Sibley  tents,  five  of  which  were  allowed  to  each  com- 
pany. The  men  had  by  this  time  learned  to  make 
themselves  quite  comfortable.  As  soon  as  the 
weather  became  cold  enough  to  require  fires  various 
kinds  of  fireplaces  were  improvised,  and  in  this  way 
made  the  large  tents  very  pleasant  and  cheerful. 
Bayonets  stuck  in  the  ground  answered  the  purpose 
of  candlesticks,  the  accoutrements  were  hung  to 
the  center  pole,  while  around  its  base  were  grouped  the 
shining  Enfield  rifles.  The  men  told  stories,  sang  songs, 
wrote  letters,  played  cards  or  checkers  according  to  incli- 
nation, until  tattoo  and  taps,  when  the  lights  went  out 
and  the  men  went  to  bed.  When  lighted  up  of  an  even- 
ing the  camp  at  Mill  creek  seen  from  a  distance  pre- 
sented a  very  pretty  picture.  The  white  tents,  standing 
in  regular  rows,  and  each  lit  up  within,  appeared  as  snug 
and  cozy  as  any  rustic  village  scene. 

During    the    month    of    November    the    following 


November,  1862.  ADVANCE  TO  NASHVILLE.  51 

changes  took  place  among  the  company  officers:  On 
the  1 2th  John  W.  Neal,  second  lieutenant  of  Company 
A,  resigned  and  returned  home,  and  Private  Daniel 
Westfall  was  promoted  to  be  his  successor.  On  the 
same  day  First  Lieutenant  Lafayette  Curless,  of  Com- 
pany G,  resigned,  and  Second  Lieutenant  John  M.  Rob- 
ertson was  promoted  to  be  first  lieutenant,  and  First 
Sergeant  D.  L.  Musselman  was  chosen  second  lieuten- 
ant. Captain  Nathaniel  McClelland,  First  Lieutenant 
Luke  Elliot,  and  Second  Lieutenant  William  Cothern, 
all  of  Company  H,  resigned  during  the  month,  and  Pri- 
vate David  Maxwell  was  chosen  captain,  Private  James 
T.  McNeil,  first  lieutenant,  and  Private  Washington  M. 
Shields,  second  lieutenant  of  Company  H. 

During  the  month  of  October  and  November  death 
was  busy  in  the  ranks,  his  victims  being  found  in  the  hos- 
pitals at  Louisville,  Harrodsburg,  Danville  and  Bowling 
Green.  Those  dying  were :  John  W.  Bradburn,  David 
A.  Gordon,  Franklin  Gill  more  and  Corporal  Joseph  F. 
Rodgers,  of  Company  A;  Henry  Connor  and  Samuel 
Danawain,  of  Company  B;  William  Clark,  Ephraim 
Gates,  John  A.  Gardner,  George  Gregor)'-,  Daniel  W. 
Hastings,  Robert  S.  Moore,  Joseph  O'Donnell,  Eben- 
ezer  Paul,  George  W.  Reynolds,  Archibald  J.  Stubble- 
field  and  Corporal  William  C.  Pelham,  of  Company  C; 
Michael  Ekis,  William  A.  Mence  and  Christopher  Shutt, 
of  Company  E ;  Henry  Henfling,  F.  S.  Henfling,  Henry 
Stalder,  John  Turner  and  Alexander  Woodcock,  of 
Company  F;  John  Cunningham  and  William  Cunning- 
ham, of  Company  H ;  Wilson  Hughes  and  Thomas  J. 
Roves,  of  Company  I ;  First  Sergeant  Robert  F.  Rea- 
son, Corporal :  William  K.  Rose,  George  H.  Cottrell, 


52  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      December,  1862. 

Charles  P.  Riddle,  Moses  Shaw,  Michael  Speicht  and 
Everard  Tegard,  of  Company  K. 


CHAPTER    VI. 


Active  preparations  were  making  for  an  advance  of 
the  army  and  a  battle  that  all  felt  must  be  fought  for  the 
possession  of  middle  Tennessee.  There  were  many  skir- 
mishes and  affairs  of  outposts  which,  in  one  instance  at 
least,  approached  almost  to  the  dignity  of  battle.  Trie 
foragers  had  almost  daily  encounters  with  the  enemy, 
but  all  these  were  only  incidental  to  the  concentration  of 
two  large  armies,  each  of  which  was  anxious  to  try  the 
issue  of  battle  once  more. 

In  the  reorganization  of  the  army  which  took  place 
about  the  beginning  of  the  month,  the  Thirty-sixth  bri- 
gade was  detached  from  Sheridan's  division,  and  on  the 
loth  returned  to  Nashville  for  garrison  duty.  General 
Rosecrans  had  assigned  Brigadier  Robert  B.  Mitchell  to 
the  command  of  that  important  post,  with  the  brigades 
of  Brigadier  James  D.  Morgan  and  Colonel  Daniel  Mc- 
Cook,  to  garrison  the  city.  Of  the  departure  of  tfie  bri- 
gade from  his  division,  General  Sheridan  said:*  "Col- 
onel Daniel  McCook's  brigade  reluctantly  joined  the 
garrison  at  Nashville,  everyone  in  it  disappointed  and 
disgusted  that  the  circumstances  at  the  time  existing 
should  necessitate  their  relegation  to  the  harassing  and 
tantalizing  duty  of  protecting  our  depots  and  line  of  sup- 
ply." On  arriving  at  Nashville  the  brigade  went  into 

*  Vol.  I,  page  210,  General  Sheridan's  Personal  Memoirs. 


December,  1862.  GARRISON  AT  NASHVILLE.  53 

camp  not  far  from  where  the  Vanderbilt  University  now 
stands  and  occupied  that  camp  or  one  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  during  its  term  of  service  in  the  Nashville  garri- 
son. 

The  two  brigades  assigned  to  garrison  Nashville  in 
December,  1862,  remained  together  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  were  composed  of  the  following  commands : 

FIRST  BRIGADE. 

General  James  D.  Morgan  Commanding. 
Tenth  Illionis — Colonel  John  Tillson. 
Sixteenth  Illinois — Colonel  Robert  F.  Smith. 
Sixtieth  Illinois— Colonel  Silas  C.  Toler. 
Tenth  Michigan — Lieutenant-Colonel  C.  J.  Dickerson. 
Fourteenth  Michigan — Colonel  Myndert  W.  Quackenbush. 

SECOND  BRIGADE. 
Colonel  Daniel  McCook  Commanding. 
Eighty-fifth  Illinois— Colonel  Robert  S.  Moore. 
Eighty-sixth  Illinois — Lieutenant-Colonel  D.  W.  Magee. 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois — Col.  Oscar  F.  Harmon. 
Fifty-second  Ohio — Lieutenant-Colonel  D.  D.  T.  Cowen. 

ARTILLERY. 

Captain  Charles  M.  Barnett  Commanding. 
Battery  I,  Second  Illinois. 

The  First  brigade  had  been  on  garrison  duty  at  this 
place  since  the  beginning  of  the  Confederate  invasion  of 
Kentucky.  It  was  strong  in  numbers,  thoroughly 
drilled,  and  officers  and  men  appeared  the  seasoned  vet- 
eran soldiers  that  they  were. 

The  campaign  from  Louisville  to  Nashville  had  been 
necessarily  severe  on  the  new  troops.  The  men  had  been 
given  and  set  out  on  this  their  first  campaign  with  the 
full  allowance  of  equipment,  consisting  of  all  that  mys- 
terious and  curiously  contrived  outfit  which  was  for  a 
long  time  issued  to  the  infantry — an  outfit  that  no  old 


54  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      December,  1862. 

soldier  would,  and  no  new  soldier  could  carry  and  wear 
without  breaking-  down.  The  result  was  that  many 
broke  down  under  the  unreasonable  burdens,  while  the 
bad  water  available  along  the  line  of  march,  owing  to  the 
prevailing  drouth,  produced  much  sickness,  which  had 
greatly  thinned  the  ranks  of  the  Second  brigade. 

All  through  the  winter  the  camp  regulations  were 
very  strict,  no  one  being  allowed  to  pass  the  limits  of  the 
camp  without  written  permission.  Reveille  sounded 
every  morning  at  half-past  five  o'clock.  Roll-caH  fol- 
lowed immediately,  every  man  being  required  to  take  his 
place  in  line  in  the  company  street,  those  failing  to  re- 
spond being  placed  on  extra  duty.  Then  followed  prep- 
arations for  breakfast,  after  which  the  grounds  were 
thoroughly  policed.  At  half-past  eight  came  guard- 
mount,  a  part  of  the  detail  being  assigned  for  picket  duty 
and  a  part  for  camp  guard.  At  half-past  nine  company 
drill  began,  lasting  from  one  to  two  hours.  In  the  early 
afternoon  there  was  battalion  drill,  and  at  half-past  four 
came  dress  parade.  Before  the  command  left  Nashville, 
guard-mount,  battalion  drill  and  dress  parade  became 
very  elaborate  affairs. 

The  first  thing  demanding  the  attention  of  the  new 
commander  on  his  arrival  at  Nashville  was  the  supply  of 
his  army.  The  railroad  from  Louisville  to  Nashville  had 
been  badly  damaged  by  rebel  cavalry  raids  and  at  least 
one  long  tunnel  blown  up.  But  the  railroad  was  re- 
paired and  the  line  of  supply  reopened,  and  sufficient 
supplies  accumulated  to  justify  an  advance  against  the 
enemy.  New  clothing  was  issued  and  the  divisions  left 
on  guard  at  points  on  the  railroad  were  drawn  in  and 
placed  in  camps  south  of  the  city.  During  the  first  two 


December,  1862.  GARRISON  AT  NASHVILLE-  55 

months  of  his  command  General  Rosecrans  had  been 
untiring  in  his  efforts  to  assimilate  with  his  army  the 
new  troops  that  had  been  attached,  and  had  obtained 
authority  from  Washington  to  dismiss  from  the  army  all 
officers  who  failed  from  any  cause  to  do  their  whole  duty. 
Under  this  authority  many  officers  were  permitted  to 
resign — their  resignation  being  endorsed  at  army  head- 
quarters "for  the  good  of  the  service." 

On  the  26th  General  Rosecrans  with  47,000  men  of 
all  arms  began  the  advance  against  the  enemy,  who  was 
known  to  be  fully  as  strong  in  numbers  and  in  a  position 
of  his  own  choice  in  front  of  Murfreesboro.  The  advance 
met  with  stubborn  resistance,  which  steadily  increased 
until  the  battle  of  Stone  River  had  been  fought  and  won 
and  Murfreesboro  wrested  from  the  defeated  foe.  Early 
in  the  day  the  roar  of  artillery  could  be  distinctly  heard 
in  the  camp  of  the  Eighty-fifth,  and  from  that  time  there 
were  rumors  of  disaster  to  the  Union  army.  These 
rumors  may  have  been  inspired  in  part  by  the  citizens  of 
the  city,  who  were  notoriously  disloyal,  and  in  part  by 
anxiety  caused  by  the  well-known  fact  that  the  rebel 
army  was  quite  as  strong  in  numbers  as  that  of  its  assail- 
ant. These  rumors  and  the  impossibility  of  getting  reli- 
able news  from  the  front  made  the  closing  days  of  the 
year  days  of  great  anxiety  for  the  "Government  people" 
at  Nashville. 

At  noon  on  January  2nd,  1863,  the  Eighty-fifth,  with 
the  Fourteenth  Michigan,  and  a  brigade  of  Kentucky 
and  Tennessee  troops,  moved  out  on  the  Murfreesboro 
pike.  While  waiting  tHere  we  learned  from  soldiers  re- 
turning from  the  front,  who  had  been  slightly  wounded, 
that  a  bloody  battle  was  still  in  progress,  and  that  while 


56  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          January,  1863. 

it  had  opened  on  the  morning  of  December  3ist,  with  a 
decided  advantage  to  the  enemy,  who  at  that  time  as- 
sumed the  offensive,  that  since  noon  of  that  day  the  bat- 
tle had  been  in  favor  of  the  Union  arms.  Moreover,  we 
learned  another  thing,  which  at  first  was  disagreeable 
news,  but  after  a  moment's  reflection  was  accepted  as  an 
assurance  that  our  army  was  not  only  still  fighting,  but 
proposed  to  continue  the  battle.  This  report  was  that 
a  large  train  loaded  with  provisions  and  ammunition, 
which  had  been  sent  out  from  Nashville,  had  been  at- 
tacked that  morning  at  Lavergne  by  rebel  cavalry,  the 
guards  dispersed,  and  the  train  captured  and  destroyed, 
and  that  the  command  was  then  waiting  to  guard  an- 
other train  to  the  front.  This  train  was  composed  of 
three  hundred  and  three  heavily  loaded  wagons,  contain- 
ing both  provisions  and  ammunition. 

It  was  near  sunset  when  the  long  train  closed  up  on 
the  pike,  and  the  long  night's  march  began.  Near  the 
asylum,  some  seven  miles  out,  the  advance  had  a  sharp 
fight  with  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy,  in  which  the  enemy 
was  routed,  with  the  loss  of  several  in  killed  and  wounded 
and  ten  prisoners.  Soon  after  dark,  as  if  the  elements 
were  in  league  with  the  foe,  rain  began  to  pour  down, 
which  continued  without  ceasing  throughout  the  weary 
night.  At  Lavergne  the  command  passed  the  wreck  of 
the  train  captured  in  the  morning,  the  wagons  still  burn- 
ing. The  turnpike  was  in  fairly  good  condition  and 
steadily,  hour  after  hour,  the  men  marched  on  through 
mud  and  rain  and  darkness,  to  the  tedious  rumble  of  the 
wagons.  The  tiresome  monotony  of  the  march  was  only 
broken  when  some  driver  felt  called  upon  to  exhort  his 
mules  with  warlike  language  to  greater  effort.  It  was  a 


P.   L.    DIKFFlfiNBACHKR, 

SL'KGECm, 


57 


Of    H<f 

uf  ILLINOIS 


January.  1863.  GARRISON  AT  NASHVILLE.  59 

hideous  night,  but  knowing  that  our  comrades  at  the 
front  were  hungry  and  in  need  of  both  food  and  ammu- 
nition, the  thought  sustained  the  men,  and  after  a  night 
march  of  thirty-two  miles,  the  train  was  delivered  on  the 
line  of  battle  the  next  morning  about  the  usual  hour  for 
breakfast.  During  the  day  the  Eighty-fifth  was  moved 
to  support  threatened  points  in  the  line,  and  in  the  even- 
ing it  supported  the  charging  column  that  broke  through 
the  rebel  right.  The  experience  of  the  regiment  through- 
out the  day  was  a  most  trying  one,  as  the  fire  to  which  it 
was  subjected  could  not  be  returned,  while  shot  and  shell 
fell  all  around ;  but,  strangely  enough,  not  a  man  of  the 
regiment  was  killed,  although  a  few  were  slightly 
wounded. 

That  night  the  enemy  retreated  and  the  Eighty-fifth 
returned  with  the  wagon  train  to  Nashville.  It  is  doubt- 
ful if  any  infantry  regiment  ever  endured  a  longer  march, 
without  rest,  than  that  of  the  Eighty-fifth  to  Murfrees- 
boro  and  return.  In  two  nights,  with  a  day  of  battle 
intervening,  the  regiment  marched  sixty-four  miles.  Nor 
was  the  length  of  the  march  all,  for  both  ways  it  had  to 
guard  a  train,  which  always  adds  to  the  discomforts  of 
the  march. 

The  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River  were: 
Robert  Porter,  of  Company  B ;  George  Cooper,  of  Com- 
pany G ;  John  E.  Jackson  and  Lester  N.  Morris,  of  Com- 
pany K. 

The  following  were  the  changes  among  the  regi- 
mental and  company  officers  during  the  month  of  De- 
cember :  Samuel  F.  Wright,  regimental  quartermaster, 
was  dismissed  from  the  service,  and  Haloway  W.  Light- 
cap,  of  Havana,  Illinois,  was  commissioned  to  be  his  sue- 


60  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          January,  1863. 

cessor.  Comfort  H.  Ramon,  first  lieutenant  of  Com- 
pany D,  resigned,  and  Second  Lieutenant  Charles  H. 
Chatfield,  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant,  and  Sergeant 
William  W.  Turner  was  promoted  to  be  second  lieuten- 
ant. Joseph  M.  Plunket,  first  lieutenant  of  Company  E, 
resigned,  and  Sergeant  Hugh  A.  Trent  was  promoted 
to  be  his  successor.  Captain  William  McClelland,  of 
Company  G,  resigned  and  returned  home,  and  Private 
Henry  S.  LaTourrette  was  commissioned  to  succeed 
him. 

Death  came  very  near  claiming  a  victim  for  each  day 
in  the  month  of  December.  Those  dying  were :  Cor- 
poral George  M.  Welch,  Edmond  Cratty,  Aurelius  Lay- 
ton,  Hiram  Mason,  Wesley  J.  Whittaker  and  Martin  L. 
White,  of  Company  A;  Thomas  E.  Paul  and  Jasper  N. 
Wilcox,  of  Company  B ;  Samuel  Derwent,  Hiram  Ram- 
sey and  William  Smith,  of  Company  C;  Daniel  Kicer, 
John  W.  Price,  Merton  Steley  and  Ira  Welch,  of  Com- 
pany D ;  David  Armstrong  and  Wesley  Frost,  of  Com- 
pany E;  John  E.  Bolen,  Daniel  Hays  and  Samuel  Still, 
of  Company  G;  George  W.  Shaw,  of  Company  H; 
Edward  McCroskey  and  Jasper  Wilcox,  of  Company  I ; 
Corporal  Thomas  Jemmison,  Romeo  MaGill,  David  B. 
Colglazier,  Abner  D.  Griffin  and  John  Zanise,  of  Com- 
pany K. 


January,  1863.  GARRISON  AT  NASHVILLE.  61 

CHAPTER  VII. 


The  battle  of  Stone  River  was  not  only  a  very  bloody 
one,  but  exhibited  in  a  marked  degree  the  endurance  of 
Rosecrans  and  his  army.  The  two  army  commanders 
had  conceived  a  precisely  similar  plan  of  battle,  each  in- 
tending to  turn  and  crush  the  other's  right  flank.  Bragg 
won  in  the  outset  by  attacking  an  hour  earlier  than  the 
time  set  by  Rosecrans  for  his  assault.  At  first  the  dash 
of  the  Southern  troops  was  resistless,  and  before  noon  on 
the  3  ist,  the  right  of  the  Union  army  had  been  doubled 
back  on  the  center.  But  here,  as  usual,  the  tide  was 
turned.  The  impetuous  rush  of  the  Southern  soldier 
had  spent  itself,  and  the  superior  staying  qualities  of  his 
Northern  opponent  began  to  tell.  The  enemy's  success 
of  the  morning  had  not  been  gained  without  desperate 
fighting  and  heavy  loss,  and  when  the  extent  of  the  dis- 
aster to  his  right  flank,  with  its  crushing  force  was  re- 
vealed to  the  commander  of  the  Union  army,  he  realized 
the  full  burden  of  his  responsibility,  and  rising  to  tRe 
demands  of  the  hour  he  was  simply  superb.  Far  the 
greater  part  of  his  troops  had  never  seen  Rosecrans 
under  the  enemy's  fire  before,  and  seeing  him  riding  fear- 
lessly on  the  extreme  front,  cool  and  collected  in  the  heat 
of  battle,  giving  orders  and  encouraging  his  men,  his 
presence  was  an  inspiration.  Personal  bravery  was  sel- 
dom more  strikingly  displayed.  And  as  Rosecrans 
dashed  from  one  point  to  another,  he  massed  his  artillery 
where  his  quick  eye  saw  the  exposed  points,  and  with 
manifest  confidence  in  ultimate  success,  he  showed  that 
he  had  confidence  in  his  men.  Nobly  they  responded  to 


62  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          January,  1863. 

the  enthusiasm  of  their  commander,  and  guided  by  his 
unconquered  spirit,  they  plucked  victory  from  impend- 
ing defeat. 

When  General  Bragg  retired  to  Murfreesboro  after 
his  Kentucky  campaign,  he  fully  expected  to  remain 
there  unmolested  through  the  winter.  No  one  dreamed 
that  Rosecrans  would  attack  the  place  before  spring,  and 
there  was  high  festivity  among  the  insurgents  about 
Christmas  time.  One  of  the  most  dashing  of  the  rebel 
cavalry  leaders  was  married  in  Murfreesboro,  the  cere- 
mony being  performed  by  Bishop  and  General  L,eonidas 
Polk,  the  Confederate  President  being  present  as  a 
guest.  On  this  occasion  the  floor  was  carpeted  with  a 
United  States  flag,  on  which  the  company  danced,  to  sig- 
nify that  they  had  put  its  authority  under  their  feet,  but 
their  revelry  was  rudely  interrupted  by  the  unexpected 
advance  of  the  defenders  of  the  National  flag. 

In  the  campaign  which  ended  in  the  occupation  of 
Murfreesboro,  the  losses  had  been  very  heavy.  General 
Bragg  reported  his  losses  at  ten  thousand  in  killed, 
wounded  and  captured,  while  General  Rosecrans  lost  in 
killed  1,553,  wounded  7,245  and  2,800  prisoners — total 
11,598.  Thus  more  than  25  per  cent  of  the  troops  en- 
gaged on  the  Union  side  had  been  lost,  nor  was  this  all. 
Rosecrans  had  lost  28  pieces  of  artillery  and  a  large  por- 
tion of  his  wagon  train  had  been  captured  and  destroyed. 
But  a  victory  had  been  gained  by  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, and  in  view  of  the  early  success  of  the  enemy,  it 
was  a  great  victory.  The  final  battle  for  Kentucky  had 
been  fought  by  the  enemy  and  lost.  The  victory  for  the 
Union  was  a  long  stride  toward  the  restoration  of  the 
status  of  the  preceding  summer  in  Middle  Tennessee. 


January,  1863.  GARRISON  AT  NASHVILLE.  63 

The  railroad  from  Nashville  to  Murfreesboro  had 
been  broken,  and  until  its  track  could  be  repaired  and  its 
bridges  rebuilt,  the  army  depended  solely  on  wagon 
trains  for  supplies.  The  vastness  of  the  daily  demand, 
the  reduced  wagon  train  and  the  contingencies  of  bad 
weather  and  bad  roads,  made  it  imprudent  to  immedi- 
ately increase  the  force  at  the  front,  where  the  men  were 
already  on  half  rations  and  in  need  of  clothing.  Then, 
too,  at  that  period  of  the  war  it  was  considered  necessary, 
after  each  great  battle,  to  spend  some  time  in  reorganiz- 
ing the  army  and  in  filling  vacancies  caused  by  loss  in 
action.  But  it  is  a  universal  principle  that  there  is  no 
vacancy  in  an  army  while  in  the  field.  The  instant  a 
superior  falls,  the  man  next  in  rank  to  him  takes  his  place 
— without  an  order,  without  an  assignment.  The  col- 
onel replaces  the  general,  the  line  officer  the  field  officer, 
the  non-commissioned  officer  the  commissioned  officer. 
However,  vacancies  may  be  filled  by  orders  from  head- 
quarters, whatever  form  promotions  may  take,  this  is  the 
invariable  rule  in  action.  As  soon  as  a  vacancy  occurs, 
the  man  next  in  rank  fills  it  the  moment  he  knows  it 
exists,  and  he  continues  to  fill  it  till  superior  orders  make 
a  different  arrangement.  If,  therefore,  supplies  could 
have  been  transported  to  the  front  sufficient  for  the  de- 
mands of  the  army,  together  with  the  reinforcements 
then  near  at  hand,  the  enemy  might  have  been  pursued 
within  a  few  days  after  the  battle  ended.  As  it  was,  How- 
ever, the  army  remained  at  Murfreesboro  until  well  into 
the  next  summer. 

The  most  elaborate  fortifications  were  erected  at 
Murfreesboro  during  the  six  months  which  followed  the 
occupation  of  that  place.  Earthworks  of  the  strongest 


64  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          January,  1863. 

type  were  thrown  up  on  the  high  ground  between  the 
town  and  Stone's  river,  on  each  side  of  the  railroad,  and 
on  the  elevated  ground  north  of  the  river.  These  heavy 
works  were  commanded  in  turn  by  a  succession  of  forts, 
which  offered  vulnerable  sides  to  the  great  central  fort- 
ress. And  in  front  of  the  camps  of  the  army,  lines  of 
lighter  works  were  thrown  up.  These  defenses  a  year 
later  furnished  refuge  for  troops  stationed  for  the  protec- 
tion of  communications  and  the  depot  of  supplies  at 
Murfreesboro,  but  no  great  army  ever  had  an  opportun- 
ity of  defeating  a  greater  army  by  their  friendly  aid. 

At  this  period  of  the  war,  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy 
outnumbered  that  arm  of  the  service  in  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  at  least  two  to  one.  These  troopers  were 
nearly  all  veterans  in  the  service ;  led  with  dash  and  skill ; 
accustomed  to  all  the  hardships  and  privations  of  their 
calling,  and  it  was  amazing  with  what  rapidity  they 
moved  and  the  amount  of  fatigue  they  could  undergo. 
Small  bands  of  rebel  cavalry  continually  raided  the 
Louisville  &  Nashville  railroad,  burning  bridges,  de- 
stroying trestle  work,  water  tanks  and  stations.  In  a 
report  of  the  superintendent  of  that  road  for  the  year 
ending  July  ist,  1863,  he  states  that  during  this  time, 
"The  road  has  been  operated  for  its  entire  length  only 
seven  months  and  twelve  days.  All  the  bridges  and 
trestle-work  on  the  line,  except  the  bridge  over  Barren 
river  and  four  small  bridges,  were  destroyed  and  rebuilt 
during  the  year." 

As  the  army  was  dependent  upon  this  railroad  for  the 
bulk  of  its  suppiles,  it  can  readily  be  seen  that  the  men 
must  live  on  short  rations,  and  endure  the  winter  with  a 
limited  supply  of  clothing.  Indeed,  for  the  first  few 


January,  1863.  GARRISON  AT  NASHVILLE.  65 

weeks  after  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  the  troops  were  on 
half  rations,  and  many  of  the  articles  constituting  the 
"ration"  were  entirely  dispensed  with,  leaving  but  three 
or  four  on  the  list.  The  surrounding  country  for  miles 
was  scoured  for  forage  and  provisions.  Everything  of 
that  kind  was  gathered  by  foraging  parties,  strong 
enough  in  numbers  to  fight  a  battle  if  found  necessary. 
In  many  instances  these  foraging  parties  left  scarce 
enough  for  the  actual  necessities  of  the  inhabitants.  To 
such  an  extreme  did  this  shortage  of  food  extend  that 
officers  who  had  the  means  to  purchase  what  they  needed 
found  potatoes  and  onions  luxuries  beyond  their  reach. 
And  this  deplorable  condition  was  even  worse  with  the 
troops  on  garrison  duty  at  Nashville,  as  they  could  not 
reach  the  country  where  forage  and  vegetables  could  be 
obtained  in  any  quantity,  and  the  whole  army  was  threat- 
ened with  the  scurvy. 

Among  the  smaller  annoyances  of  soldier  life  on 
ground  that  had  long  been  used  for  camps,  was  the  un- 
ending struggle  with  that  pestiferous  little  insect  known 
to  military  men  as  the  "greyback."  Perhaps  a  few  had 
made  his  acquaintance  before,  but  his  presence  did  not 
become  general  until  the  regiment  located  on  the  old 
camp  grounds  at  Nashville.  From  that  time  forward, 
the  command  was  abundantly  supplied  with  this  numer- 
ous, industrious  and  persistent  camp  follower.  It  was 
one  of  the  serious  annoyances  of  army  life,  and  no 
amount  of  care  on  the  part  of  the  soldier  could  perma- 
nently rid  him  of  the  pest.  Boiling  the  clothes  and  the 
most  diligent  and  unwearied  "skirmishing"  on  the  part 
of  the  soldier  only  kept  them  in  check,  but  did  not  exter- 
minate them.  Two  or  three  days  and  nights  of  active 


66  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          January,  1863. 

service,  in  which  the  clothing  could  not  be  removed, 
gave  ample  assurance  that  the  pest  was  still  there,  ready 
for  business  at  the  old  stand.  Nor  did  these  unwearied 
workers  have  any  respect  for  rank,  but  subjected  officers 
and  men  alike  to  his  bite.  All  had  to  "skirmish,"  as  the 
work  of  hunting  through  the  seams  of  the  soldiers'  cloth- 
ing was  called. 

A  few  months  of  army  life  bring  out  the  characteris- 
tics of  the  men;  not  only  their  aptness  to  acquire  the 
habits  of  a  soldier,  but  their  courage  and  their  devotion 
to  duty.  The  reputation  of  a  man  as  a  citizen  at  home 
did  not  always  prove  a  suitable  standard  with  which  to 
measure  him  as  a  soldier.  The  brawling  bully,  the  ter- 
ror of  the  community  in  which  he  lived — the  man  who  is 
always  ready  to  fight  his  neighbor,  is  among  the  first  to 
skulk  from  duty,  the  first  to  act  the  coward's  part  in  bat- 
tle. The  modest,  timid  boy,  or  bashful  man,  becomes 
the  trusty  soldier,  who  would  rather  suffer  than  neglect 
his  duty  or  disobey  an  order,  rather  die  than  desert  his 
post  or  leave  the  ranks  while  under  fire.  The  morals  of 
the  reckless  dare-devil  improve  under  military  discipline, 
while  those  of  his  comrades  of  more  pious  pretensions 
become  greatly  modified  if  not  wholly  wrecked.  The 
man  of  great  strength  and  giant  proportions  frequently 
falls  a  prey  to  disease,  grows  weak  and  helpless,  and 
finally  finds  his  way  to  the  hospital  and  the  grave,  while 
the  spindling  boy  is  rounded  into  vigorous  manhood, 
and  seems  to  thrive  on  duty,  danger  and  exposure.  It  is 
not  mere  animal  courage  that  leads  men  up  to  the  can- 
non's mouth,  but  moral  and  intellectual  force — devotion 
to  duty,  while  fully  realizing  the  danger. 

During  the  month  the  regiment  was  usually  called  at 


January,  1863.  GARRISON  AT  NASHVILLE.  67 

four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  as  were  all  the  troops  at 
Nashville, — and  stood  to  arms  until  after  daylight.  The 
men  were  obliged  to  stand  in  line, — or  engaged  in  drill- 
ing as  they  preferred, — for  at  least  an  hour  before  day- 
light every  morning,  and  occasionally  reveille  sounded  at 
three  o'clock.  This  was  a  necessary  precaution,  ren- 
dered so  by  the  activity  of  the  enemy's  cavalry,  who  were 
continually  raiding  the  outposts,  and  boldly  threatening 
an  attack  on  the  garrison.  Much  of  the  time  there  was 
snow  on  the  ground,  or  it  was  covered  with  sleet.  Gen- 
erally the  weather  was  damp  and  cold,  and  the  mornings 
almost  always  foggy,  rendering  the  dull,  daily  routine  of 
the  garrison  exceedingly  unpleasant,  and  adding  largely 
to  the  sick  list. 

The  great  number  of  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Stone 
River,  and  the  ever-increasing  number  of  sick  taxed  the 
medical  department  to  its  utmost  capacity.  Many  of  the 
public  buildings  in  Nashville  were  turned  into  hospitals, 
while  a  large  number  of  the  slightly  wounded  were  sent 
farther  north.  These  Hospitals  were  models  of  neatness, 
and  all  that  medical  and  surgical  skill  could  do  to  relieve 
the  suffering  inmates,  was  promptly  done.  But  sadly 
and  slowly,  to  those  yet  helpless  but  recovering  from 
wounds  and  disease,  the  days  passed  in  a  kind  of  dreary 
dream  as  they  listened  to  the  groans  of  the  suffering  men 
about  them,  the  gasping  breath  or  muttered  prayer  of 
the  dying,  the  raving  of  fever's  delirium,  and  the  slow 
tramp  of  those  who  bore  away  the  tenant  of  some  now 
useless  couch  to  a  yet  more  narrow  resting  place.  This 
was  relieved  at  times  by  the  happier  sounds  of  chatting 
convalescents,  and  the  pleasant  speech  of  the  faithful 
army  nurse.  But  perhaps  the  saddest  sights  in  all  the 


68  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          January,  1863. 

hospital  were  those  suffering  from  nostalgia,  for,  who 
can  minister  to  the  mind  diseased?  Many  were  the  cases 
where  the  soldier's  longing  for  home  resulted  in  death, 
and  it  was  surprising  the  number  of  fatalities  there  were 
attending  that  heart-breaking  disease. 

On  the  nth  the  resignation  of  Captain  Matthew 
Langston,  of  Company  A,  was  accepted,  and  First  Lieu- 
tenant Thomas  R.  Roberts  was  promoted  to  be  captain. 
Second  Lieutenant  Daniel  Westfall  being  appointed  his 
successor,  and  Sergeant  Daniel  Havens  was  promoted 
second  lieutenant.  On  the  I3th  the  resignation  of  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  Richard  W.  Tenney,  of  Company  F, 
was  accepted,  and  First  Sergeant  Edwin  D.  Lampitt  was 
promoted  to  the  place  made  vacant.  On  the  2Oth  Abra- 
ham Clarry,  second  lieutenant  of  Company  E,  resigned, 
and  Sergeant  Major  Clark  N.  Andrus  was  appointed  his 
successor.  On  the  24th  James  A.  Mallory,  second  lieu- 
tenant of  Company  B,  resigned,  and  First  Sergeant  Wil- 
liam Allen  was  commissioned  his  successor.  But  before 
he  was  mustered  his  commission  was  cancelled,  and  he 
was  appointed  sergeant  major,  and  Sergeant  George 
Myers  was  appointed  and  mustered  second  lieutenant. 

The  following  died  during  the  month  of  January: 
Johnston  Galbraith,  Batholomew  Hurley  and  James  B. 
Thomas,  of  Company  B ;  Richard  A.  Lane,  of  Company 
C;  Joseph  Cady  and  William  H.  Ransom,  of  Company 
D;  Samuel  Havens,  of  Company  E;  John  Maloney,  of 
Company  F;  George  W.  Barnes,  John  B.  Hagan  and 
Josiah  Kelley,  of  Company  H;  Thomas  Burbige,  John 
Cokley  and  Thomas  Frazee,  of  Company  I;  Corporal 
John  M.  Durham,  Benjamin  H.  Grover  and  John  Rake- 
straw,  of  Company  K. 


February,  1863.  GARRISON  AT  NASHVILLE.  69 

On  February  3rd,  the  enemy,  under  command  of 
Generals  Forrest  and  Wheeler,  with  a  force  of  cavalry 
and  mounted  infantry  of  fully  six  thousand  men.  made  a 
daring  attack  on  the  garrison  at  Fort  Donelson,  with  a 
view  of  closing  navigation  on  the  Cumberland  river,  then 
but  recently  resumed.  The  Federal  garrison  consisted 
of  nine  companies  of  the  Eighty-third  Illinois,  number- 
ing six  hundred  and  fifty  men,  under  command  of  Col- 
onel Harding,  a  single  battery  of  artillery  and  a  thirty- 
two-pounder  rifled  siege  gun.  The  battle  lasted  from 
early  in  the  afternoon  until  half-past  eight  o'clock  in  the 
evening,  when  the  enemy  retreated  after  being  terribly 
punished.  The  attack  was  made  and  repeated,  time  and 
again,  with  utter  recklessness,  and  the  defense  made 
by  the  little  garrison  stands  among  the  most  brilliant  of 
the  war.  The  garrison  lost  sixteen  killed,  sixty  wounded 
and  twenty  prisoners,  while  the  enemy  lost  two  hundred 
killed,  six  hundred  wounded  and  one  hundred  captured. 
Especially  brilliant  does  this  feat  of  the  Federal  arms 
appear  when  it  is  remembered  that  the  attacking  force 
outnumbered  the  garrison  at  least  ten  to  one,  and  that 
we  killed  and  wounded  more  of  the  enemy  than  the  de- 
fenders numbered. 

The  resumption  of  navigation  on  the  Cumberland 
river  opened  up  another  line  of  supply,  and  steamboats 
loaded  with  military  stores  arrived  almost  daily.  And, 
from  this  time  on,  the  garrison  at  Nashville  received  full 
rations,  but  the  single  line  of  railroad  from  there  to  the 
front,  even  when  assisted  by  the  wagon  train,  was  still 
unable  to  furnish  the  army  with  full  supplies.  Soon  sup- 
plies began  to  accumulate,  and  large  details  were  made 
from  the  troops  on  garrison  duty  to  unload  the  trans- 


70  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.       February,  1863. 

ports,  which  were  usually  convoyed  by  gunboats.  After 
the  warehouses  had  been  filled  with  clothing,  provisions 
and  ammunition,  the  river  front  was  piled  mountain  high 
with  grain  and  forage,  and  it  appeared  to  the  tired  men 
that  General  Rosecrans  was  laying  up  supplies  for  the 
world  to  come. 

Elaborate  fortifications  were  constructed  on  the  hills 
south  of  the  city,  one  of  which,  Fort  Negley,  became  a 
fortress  of  the  strongest  type.  These  defenses  subse- 
quently had  a  prominent  part  in  the  battle  of  Nashville, 
in  which  a  rebel  army  was  practically  destroyed  within 
the  sound  of  their  guns.  But  this  happened  almost  two 
years  later,  when  few  supposed  that  an  experienced 
soldier  of  the  Confederacy  would  stake  his  all  upon  a 
single  hazard. 

On  the  7th  a  large  fleet  of  transports,  convoyed  by 
several  gunboats,  having  on  board  eighteen  regiments  of 
infantry  and  four  batteries  of  artillery,  steamed  up  the 
Cumberland  river  and  landed  at  Nashville.  This  fleet, 
as  it  came  winding  round  the  bends  of  the  crooked  river 
below  the  city,  presented  an  imposing  appearance.  The 
boats  were  covered  with  troops,  their  arms  and  banners 
flashing  in  the  sunlight,  bands,  playing,  and  the  men  full 
of  enthusiasm.  It  was  a  picture  of  power  and  splendor 
and  a  revelation  alike  of  the  strength  and  determination 
of  the  Federal  Government  to  resume  its  authority  over 
its  rebellious  subjects.  It  was  a  stately,  floating  column, 
a  triumphal  procession.  These  troops  with  other  regi- 
ments arriving  a  little  later  numbered  about  fourteen 
thousand  men,  and  formed  an  army  corps  commanded 
by  Major  General  Gordon  Granger,  afterward  known  as 
the  reserve  corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland. 


February,  1863.  GARRISON  AT  NASHVILLE.  71 

During  the  entire  time  the  brigade  remained  in  Nash- 
ville, the  activity  of  the  guerillas  was  such  that  heavy 
details  were  required  to  guard  all  trains  going  to  and 
coming  from  the  front.  Then,  too,  the  turnpike  had  to 
be  kept  in  repair,  and  large  working  parties  were  con- 
tinually at  work  in  order  to  keep  it  passable  for  wagons. 
These  working  parties  had  also  to  be  protected  by  troops 
detailed  from  the  garrison.  Trying  and  exasperating 
were  these  duties,  and  the  men  longed  for  relief  that  they 
might  go  to  the  front,  where  more  congenial  employ- 
ment might  be  found. 

On  the  7th  Captain  Samuel  Black,  of  Company  C, 
resigned  for  disability,  whereupon  First  Lieutenant 
George  A.  Blanchard  was  promoted  to  be  captain,  Sec- 
ond Lieutenant  William  W.  Walker  being  commissioned 
first  lieutenant  and  Sergeant  James  M.  Hamilton  second 
lieutenant.  On  the  Qth  Second  Lieutenant  Hugh  Mc- 
Hugh,  of  Company  I,  resigned  on  account  of  failing 
health,  and  Sergeant  Albert  P.  Britt,  of  Company  E, 
Twenty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry,  was  commissioned  to 
succeed  him.  On  the  i6th  Second  Lieutenant  Wash- 
ington M.  Shields,  of  Company  H,  resigned  for  disabil- 
ity, and  Sergeant  Andrew  J.  Horton  was  promoted  to 
the  vacancy.  On  the  23rd  Adjutant  John  B.  Wright 
resigned,  and  Second  Lieutenant  Clark  N.  Andrus,  of 
Company  E,  was  promoted  to  be  adjutant.  On  the  same 
date  Sergeant  Andrew  J.  Shackey  was  promoted  to  be 
second  lieutenant  of  Company  E. 

The  deaths  reported  during  the  month  of  February 
were:  James  P.  Arnett  and  Andrew  Conley,  of  Com- 
pany A;  James  McKalip,  of  Company  B;  Martin  L. 
Treadway,  of  Company  D ;  Leander  Veileit,  of  Company 


72  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  1863. 

E ;  P.  D.  Cleavland  and  Our  Mike,of  Company  F ;  Alfred 
Smith,  of  Company  G;  Henry  Bloomfield,  of  Company 
H ;  Oliver  Trapp,  of  Company  I,  and  John  M.  Barr,  of 
Company  K. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


By  the  first  of  March,  the  threatening  attitude  of  the 
enemy  under  General  VanDorn,  now  commanding  the 
left  wing  of  Bragg's  army,  led  to  a  concentration  of  Fed- 
eral troops  at  Franklin,  about  eighteen  miles  south  of 
Nashville.  On  the  4th  General  Gilbert, in  command  at 
that  point,  ordered  Colonel  Coburn,  with  five  regiments 
of  infantry,  four  detachments  of  cavalry  and  a  battery  of 
artillery,  the  whole  command  nearly  three  thousand 
strong,  to  proceed  south  from  Franklin  with  a  wagon 
train  of  one  hundred  wagons.  While  this  was  seemingly 
a  foraging  expedition,  it  was  really  intended  to  recon- 
noitre the  enemy's  front  toward  Columbia. 

The  enemy  was  encountered  three  miles  south  of 
Franklin,  but  after  sharp  fighting,  Coburn  drove  him 
back  to  Spring  Hill.  That  night  Coburn  advised  Gil- 
bert that  he  was  confronted  by  a  largely  superior  force, 
and  suggested  that  he  be  permitted  to  fall  back.  But 
Gilbert  ordered  him  to  continue  the  advance,  and,  pro- 
ceeding the  next  morning,  the  column  found  the  enemy 
in  overwhelming  numbers.  Soon  the  small  Federal 
force  found  itself  surrounded,  and  after  exhausting  his 
ammunition,  Coburn  and  most  of  his  command  sur- 
rendered. The  force  of  the  enemy  was  fully  fifteen  thou- 
sand strong,  and  the  surrender,  after  Colonel  Coburn 


March  ,1863.  GARRISON  AT  NASHVILLE.  73 

had  gone  into  the  midst  of  the  enemy,  was  doubtless  a 
necessity.  He  went  forward  against  his  own  convic- 
tions, under  orders  from  his  superior  who  was  miles  in 
the  rear,  and  that  officer  must  be  held  responsible  for  the 
disaster.  This  surrender  did  not,  however,  take  place 
without  sharp  fighting,  in  which  Coburn  lost  fifty  killed, 
one  hundred  and  fifty  wounded,  and  a  total  of  twenty- 
two  hundred  prisoners. 

On  the  5th  the  south  wind  wafted  the  sound  of  dis- 
tant cannon  to  the  camps  about  Nashville,  and  the  omin- 
ous sounds  sent  the  troops  from  their  usual  drill  back  to 
camp  to  await  orders.  While  there  were  many  rumors 
of  disaster  floating  thrpugh  the  camp,  it  was  not  until 
evening  that  the  extent  of  the  defeat  became  known. 
But  upon  receiving  definite  information  of  the  defeat  and 
surrender,  General  Granger  threw  General  Baird's  bri- 
gade into  Franklin  by  rail,  and  following  in  person,  he 
assumed  command  of  that  important  post. 

The  whole  country  between  Nashville  and  the  army 
at  the  front  was  infested  with  guerrilla  bands.  These 
bands  were  largely,  if  not  wholly,  composed  of  citizens, 
who,  during  the  day,  while  apparently  attending  to  their 
usual  avocations  in  a  quiet  and  lawful  manner,  learned 
the  position  of  troops,  where  a  picket  might  be  shot,  or 
foragers  or  stragglers  murdered  with  little  risk  to  them- 
selves. When  this  information  had  been  secured  they 
quietly  assembled  at  night  in  some  out  of  the  way  place, 
from  whence  they  sallied  forth  and  accomplished  their 
murderous  task.  This  done,  they  quickly  dispersed  and 
resumed  the  role  of  virtuous,  law-abiding  citizens.  They 
were  usually  led  by  some  local  celebrity,  whose  cunning 
and  reck 'ess  daring  fitted  him  for  leadership. 


74  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  1863. 

Living  on  a  large  plantation  not  far  from  Lavergne, 
was  one  Dick  McCann.  This  man  was  suspected  of 
being  the  leader  of  a  band  that  had  been  very  active  in 
destroying  culverts,  ditching  trains,  harrassing  men  of 
supposed  loyalty,  killing  pickets  and  murdering  foragers 
when  in  parties  small  enough  to  make  it  a  safe  pastime. 
One  evening  early  in  the  month,  soon  after  dark,  the 
Eighty-fifth  was  ordered  aboard  a  train  of  freight  cars, 
and  ran  out  opposite  the  McCann  plantation.  The  night 
was  very  dark,  the  thunder  roared,  the  lightning  flashed 
and  the  rain  poured  down  in  torrents,  as  the  regiment 
marched  a  mile  or  more  west  of  the  railroad  to  McCann's 
home.  There  was  a  large  mansion,  fine  barns  and  many 
slave  cabins.  The  men  removed  the  family  from  the 
house,  the  slaves  from  the  cabins,  and  turned  the  stock 
out  of  the  barns.  This  done,  the  order  was  given  to  set 
fire  to  everything  that  would  burn,  and  very  soon  every- 
thing that  could  shelter  man  or  beast  was  consumed  to 
ashes.  After  this  had  been  accomplished,  the  regiment 
took  up  the  line  of  march  to  the  train.  The  small  streams 
crossed  in  going  out  were  now  swelled  by  the  deluge  of 
rain,  so  as  to  be  almost  too  deep  to  ford,  but  fortunately 
not  entirely  so,  and  the  regiment  returned  to  Nashville 
before  daylight  the  next  morning.  This  expedition  had 
the  best  possible  effect,  and  henceforth  our  pickets,  train 
guards  and  foragers  were  not  molested  or  murdered  in 
that  neighborhood. 

The  Federal  authorities  were  slow  to  learn  how  to 
stop  the  depredations  and  murders  committed  within  the 
territory  occupied  by  the  Union  armies.  Such  outrages 
were  almost  universally  committed  by  men  who  were  too 
cowardly  to  engage  in  open,  manly  warfare;  men  who, 


GILHEKT   W.    SOUTHWICK, 

ASSISTANT  SCKGEOX. 


75 


March,  1863.  GARRISON  AT  NASHVILLE.  77 

under  the  guise  of  peaceable  citizens,  demanded  protec- 
tion for  their  property,  and  who  became  cruel  assassins 
when  it  appeared  perfectly  safe  to  indulge  their  blood- 
thirsty desires.  But  within  less  than  a  year  after  the 
McCann  neighborhood  had  been  quieted,  General 
Thomas  found  a  way  to  deal  with  southern  banditti  that 
aroused  the  admiration  of  the  writer  and  was  at  once  so 
just  and  far  reaching  that  a  copy  of  the  order  is  here  set 
out  in  full.*  It  will  be  observed  that  it  not  only  provided 
a  pension  for  the  families  of  the  murdered  soldiers,  but  it 
made  it  lawful  for  any  one  to  kill  the  murderers  on  sight. 

GENERAL  ORDERS,  No.  6. 
Headquarters  Army  of  the  Cumberland, 

Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  January  26th,  1864. 

It  having  been  reported  to  these  headquarters  that  between 
seven  and  eight  o'clock,  on  the  evening  of  the  23rd  ult.,  within 
one  and  one-half  miles  of  the  village  of  Mulberry,  Lincoln  County, 
Tennessee,  a  wagon  which  had  become  detached  from  a  foraging 
train  belonging  to  the  United  States  was  attacked  by  guerrillas, 
and  the  officer  in  command  of  the  foraging  party,  First  Lieutenant 
Porter,  Company  A,  Twenty-seventh  Indiana  Volunteers,  the 
teamster,  wagonmaster,  and  four  other  soldiers  who  had  been  sent 
to  load  the  train  (the  latter  four  unarmed),  were  captured.  They 
were  immediately  mounted  and  hurried  off,  the  guerrillas  avoiding 
the  road,  until  their  party  halted  about  one  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
on  the  bank  of  the  Elk  river,  where  the  rebels  stated  they  were 
going  into  camp  for  the  night.  The  hands  of  the  prisoners  were 
then  tied  behind  them,  and  they  were  robbed  of  everything  of 
value  about  their  persons.  They  were  next  drawn  up  in  line  about 
five  paces  in  front  of  their  captors,  and  one  of  the  latter,  who 
acted  as  leader,  commanded  ready,  and  the  whole  party  immedi- 
ately fired  upon  them.  One  of  the  prisoners  was  shot  through  the 
head  and  killed  instantly,  and  three  were  wounded.  Lieutenant 
Porter  was  not  hit.  He  immediately  ran,  was  followed  and  fired 
upon  three  times  by  one  of  the  party,  and,  finding  that  he  was 
about  to  be  overtaken,  threw  himself  over  a  precipice  into  the 


*  Chaplain  Van  Home's  Life  of  General  Thomas,  pages  214-216. 
6 


78  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  1863. 

river,  and,  succeeding  in  getting  his  hands  loose,  swam  to  the 
opposite  side,  and,  although  pursued  to  that  side  and  several  times 
fired  upon,  he,  after  twenty-four  hours  of  extraordinary  exertion 
and  great  exposure,  reached  a  house,  whence  he  was  taken  to 
Tullahoma,  where  he  now  lies  in  a  critical  situation.  The  others, 
after  being  shot,  were  immediately  thrown  into  the  river.  Thus 
the  murder  of  the  men — Newell  E.  Orcutt,  Ninth  Independent 
Battery,  Ohio  Volunteer  Artillery;  John  W.  Drought,  Company 
H,  Twenty-second  Wisconsin  Volunteers;  George  W.  Jacobs,  Com- 
pany D,  Twenty-second  Wisconsin  Volunteers — was  accomplished 
by  shooting  and  drowning.  The  fourth,  John  W.  Folley,  Ninth 
Independent  Battery  Ohio  Volunteer  Artillery,  is  now  lying  in  the 
hospital,  having  escaped  by  getting  his  hands  free  while  in  the 
water. 

For  these  atrocious,  cold-blooded  murders,  equaling  in  savage 
ferocity  and  everything  ever  committed  by  the  most  barbarous 
tribes  on  the  continent,  committed  by  the  rebel  citizens  of  Ten- 
nessee, it  is  ordered  that  the  property  of  all  citizens  living  within 
a  circuit  of  ten  miles  of  the  place  where  these  men  were  captured 
be  assessed  each  in  his  due  proportion,  according  to  his  wealth,  to 
make  up  the  sum  of  thirty  thousand  dollars,  to  be  divided  among 
the  families  who  were  dependent  upon  the  murdered  men  for  their 
support. 

Ten  thousand  dollars  to  be  paid  to  the  widow  of  John  W. 
Drought,  of  North  Cape,  Racine  County,  Wisconsin,  for  the  sup- 
port of  herself  and  two  children. 

Ten  thousand  dollars  to  be  paid  to  the  widow  of  George  W. 
Jacobs,  of  Delevan,  Walworth  County,  Wisconsin,  for  the  support 
of  herself  and  one  child. 

Ten  thousand  d'ollars  to  be  divided  between  the  aged  mother 
and  sister  of  Newell  E.  Orcutt,  of  Burton,  Geauga  County,  Ohio. 

Should  the  persons  assessed  fail,  within  one  week  after  notice 
has  been  served  upon  them,  to  pay  in  the  amount  of  their  tax  in 
money,  sufficient  of  their  personal  property  shall  be  seized  and 
sold  at  public  sale  to  make  up  the  amount. 

Major  General  H.  W.  Slocum,  United  States  Volunteers,  com- 
manding the  Twelfth  Army  corps,  is  charged  with  the  execution 
of  this  order. 

The  men  who  committed  these  murders,  if  caught,  will  be  sum- 
marily executed,  and  any  persons  executing  them  will  be  held 
guiltless,  and  will  receive  the  protection  of  this  army,  and  all  per- 


March,  1863.  GARRISON  AT  NASHVILLE.  79 

sons  who  are  suspected  of  having  aided,  abetted  or  harbored  these 
guerrillas  will  be  immediately  arrested  and  tried  by  military  com- 
mission. By  Command  of 

MAJOR  GENERAL  THOMAS. 
WILLIAM  D.  WHIPPLE,  Assistant  Adjutant  General. 

The  full  amount  of  the  assessment  levied  'by  the  fore- 
going order  was  promptly  collected,  and  the  entire  thirty 
thousand  dollars  was  distributed  among  the  dependent 
relatives  of  the  murdered  soldiers. 

Desertions  from  the  ranks  and  resignations  tendered 
by  commissioned  officers    under    circumstances  which 
rendered  the  latter  method  of  quitting  the  service,  little, 
if  any  less,  dishonorable  than  the  former,  became  alarm- 
ingly frequent  in  the  early  months  of  1863.     Prior  to  this 
time  the  copperheads  of  the  North  had  confined  their 
treasonable    efforts   to    discouraging   enlistments,    and 
opposition,  more  or  less  violent,  to  all  measures  adopted 
by  the  Federal  authorities  for  the  preservation  of  the  in- 
tegrity of  the  National  Union.  But  now  they  entered  into 
an  organized  conspiracy  to  aid  and  assist  their  allies  in 
open  rebellion  by  encouraging  desertions  and  promoting 
resignations  for  the  purpose  of  reducing  the  strength  and 
destroying  the  efficiency  of  the  armies  in  the  field.     To 
accomplish  this   purpose  the   methods  they  employed 
were  as  diabolic  as  their  intentions  were  disloyal.     The 
emancipation  proclamation  had  gone  into  effect  at  the 
beginning  of  the  year,  and  they  eagerly  seized  the  oppor- 
tunity they  thought  it  afforded,  to  incite  insubordination 
and  dissatisfaction  in  the  army.     Officers  and  men  re- 
ceived letters  from  pretended  friends  and  neighbors,  and 
unfortunately,  in  some  instances   from   parents,  urging 
the  officers  to  resign  and  the  men  to  desert  and  come 
home.     To  this  effort  of  the  individual  copperhead  the 


80  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  1863. 

disloyal  press  of  the  North  added  its  hearty  and  enthusi- 
astic support.  The  columns  of  the  copperhead  press 
teemed  with  articles  denouncing  the  government,  while 
expressing  sympathy  for  the  men  who  had  volunteered 
from  patriotic  motives,  now  forced  to  engage  in  an 
unholy  war  for  the  abolition  of  slavery. 

The  writer  remembers  seeing  many  of  these  letters, 
some  of  which  he  was  allowed  to  read  entire,  in  others  a 
few  sentences  were  shown,  while  the  name  of  the  sender 
was  withheld.  But  the  general  trend  of  the  argument 
used  was  the  same  in  all — tainted  with  treason,  while  ex- 
pressing boundless  friendship  for  the  soldier.  These 
letters  ran  substantially  as  follows :  "When  you  enlisted 
in  defense  of  your  country  it  was  for  the  sole  purpose  of 
restoring  the  Union,  and  it  was  understood  as  a  part  of 
the  contract  that  the  war  would  be  waged  wholly  for  the 
attainment  of  that  end.  But  by  the  use  of  despotic  power 
and  the  adoption  of  unconstitutional  means,  the  Presi- 
dent has  changed  all  this,  and  you  are  now  called  upon 
to  fight  to  free  the  negro,  and  perhaps  sacrifice  your  life 
for  the  abolition  of  slavery.  You  are  therefore  no  longer 
bound  by  the  contract  under  which  you  entered  the  ser- 
vice, the  government  having  violated  both  the  letter  and 
the  spirit  of  its  agreement,"  usually  closing  with,  "Come 
home  and  we  will  protect  you  from  arrest."  This  in 
brief  was  the  argument  used  by  the  copperheads  to  in- 
duce young  men  to  desert  the  service,  abandon  the  flag 
they  had  sworn  to  defend  and  stain  their  names  with  a 
crime  which  no  after  life  could  wholly  obliterate.  To  those 
who  had  no  well-founded  conviction  upon  the  question 
of  slavery,  such  advice,  coming  from  pretended  friends, 
could  not  fail  to  have  the  most  unfortunate  results. 


March.  1863.  GARRISON  AT  NASHVILLE.  81 

While  the  army  lay  in  winter  quarters  at  Murfrees- 
boro  so  many  officers  tendered  their  resignations  that  it 
raised  suspicion  and  seemed  to  point  to  a  conspiracy  to 
injure  the  service.  On  one  occasion  General  Rosecrans 
received  for  approval  the  resignations  of  all  the  commis- 
sions held  by  both  the  field  and  line  officers  of  a  certain 
regiment.  As  these  resignations  came  to  headquarters 
in  a  single  package,  all  bearing  the  same  date,  and  all  in 
the  same  hand  writing  except  the  signatures,  the  proof 
of  conspiracy  was  conclusive  and  the  disloyal  purpose  of 
these  officers  manifest.  This  afforded  the  commanding 
general  an  opportunity  of  giving  the  army  a  much 
needed  object  lesson  by  making  an  example  of  these 
worthless  officers  that  would  prevent  others  from  com- 
bining to  injure  the  service.  Accordingly  he  had  the 
regiment  paraded,  when  an  order  was  read  reciting  the 
circumstances  surrounding  the  offense  and  ended  by  dis- 
missing the  guilty  officers  from  the  service.  Then,  in 
the  presence  of  the  command,  he  caused  the  shoulder 
straps  to  be  stripped  from  the  shoulders  and  the  buttons 
cut  from  the  uniforms  of  the  offending  officers  and  then 
drummed  them  out  of  camp.  This  prompt  and  ener- 
getic action  had  an  admirable  effect,  and  resignations 
became  less  and  less  frequent.  Indeed,  after  this  an 
officer  seldom  tendered  his  resignation  unless  it  was 
accompanied  with  a  surgeon's  certificate  of  disability. 

That  the  copperhead  influence,  so  potent  for  evil, 
causing  such  heavy  losses  by  desertion,  was  not  confined 
to  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  will  fully  appear  by  ref- 
erence to  a  special  order  of  the  war  department,  issued 
April  ist,  1863.  This  order  recites  that  a  certain  regi- 
ment in  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  entered  the  service 


82  HISTORY  OF  THE  85xe  ILLINOIS.  March,  1863. 

with  an  aggregate  of  eight  hundred  and  sixty-one,  and 
in  the  short  space  of  five  months  it  had  been  reduced  to 
one  hundred  and  fifty-one,  principally  by  desertion.  The 
order  then  directs  that  the  colonel,  lieutenant  colonel, 
quartermaster,  chaplain,  ten  captains  and  seventeen  lieu- 
tenants be  dismissed,  the  remaining  men  to  be  formed 
into  a  detachment  to  be  commanded  by  a  lieutenant  and 
the  detachment  be  consolidated  with  some  other  regi- 
ment. 

Throughout  the  winter  the  rebel  troopers  under  Gen- 
erals Forrest  and  Wheeler  were  exceedingly  active  in 
their  efforts  to  surprise  and  capture  detachments  in  local 
garrisons.  On  the  twenty-fifth  of  March  they  made  a 
dash  to  within  nine  miles  of  Nashville  and  captured  at 
Brentwood,  after  a  short  engagement,  about  four  hun- 
dred men  of  the  Twenty-second  Wisconsin,  under  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Bloodgood.  They  also 
captured,  at  a  stockade  south  of  Brentwood,  a  detach- 
ment of  the  Nineteenth  Michigan.  General  Smith  at 
the  time  was  moving  to  the  support  of  Colonel 
Bloodgood  and  pursued  the  enemy.  He  overtook  a 
rebel  regiment  four  miles  south  of  Brentwood,  inflicted 
severe  loss  upon  it  and  recaptured  considerable  property, 
but  was  forced  to  retire  before  Forrest's  whole  command. 
For  a  time  after  this  Brentwood  was  garrisoned  by  the 
Ninety-sixth  Illinois  infantry. 

On  the  25th  the  resignation  of  Daniel  Westfall,  sec- 
ond lieutenant  of  Company  A,  was  accepted,  and  Ser- 
geant John  K.  Milner  was  promoted  to  be  second  lieu- 
tenant. William  W.  Turner,  second  lieutenant  of 
Company  D,  resigned  on  the  3Oth,  but  the  company  was 
too  small  to  permit  of  a  successor  being  appointed. 


March,  1863.  BRENTWOOD,  TENNESSEE.  83 

John  P.  Vandeusen,  of  Company  A,  died  at  Nash- 
ville on  the  3rd.  James  Hanks  and  James  Ross,  of 
Company  F,  were  killed  by  guerrillas  on  the  9th,  but  the 
writer  has  been  unable  to  obtain  particulars.  Milton 
Stodard,  of  Company  I,  died  at  Nashville  on  the  23d,  and 
Wesley  C.  Blakesley,  of  Company  K,  died  at  the  same 
place  on  the  7th. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


On  the  eighth  of  April  Brigadier  General  James  D. 
Morgan  received  orders  to  take  the  First  and  Second  bri- 
gades from  the  garrison  at  Nashville  and  relieve  the 
troops  then  stationed  at  Brentwood.  All  soldiers  not 
able  to  march  were  sent  to  the  hospitals  in  the  city,  and 
the  usual  preparations  made  for  breaking  camp. 
Promptly  the  command  took  up  the  line  of  march,  arriv- 
ing at  Brentwood  about  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
when  the  troops  relieved  returned  to  Franklin.  The 
Sixth  Kentucky  cavalry,  under  command  of  Colonel 
Louis  D.  Watkins,  remained  at  Brentwood,  and  was 
attached  to  the  command  of  General  Morgan  for  the 
time  being.  The  Eighty-fifth  was  assigned  a  very  pleas- 
ant camp  near  the  railroad  station,  the  Eighty-sixth  Illi- 
nois occupied  the  earthworks  on  a  near-by  hill,  while  the 
other  regiments  of  the  command  occupied  camps  con- 
venient for  the  defense  of  the  place. 

Glad  to  escape  from  the  exacting  duties  of  garrison 
life  in  the  city,  the  men  quickly  made  themselves  familiar 
with  the  resources  of  the  surrounding  country,  and  have 
ever  looked  back  upon  their  stay  among  the  Brentwood 


84  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  April,  1863 

hills  with  pleasure.  Between  the  high  hills  were  fertile 
valleys  which  had  not  as  yet  greatly  suffered  from  the 
ravages  of  war.  And  although  they  had  to  be  a  little 
careful,  owing  to  the  active  guerrrilla  bands  scattered 
through  the  hills,  the  men  made  frequent  excursions  in 
the  country,  from  which  they  returned  with  potatoes, 
chickens,  fresh  pork  and  cornmeal.  No  doubt  more 
than  one  citizen  was  surprised  on  attempting  to  milk  his 
cows  in  the  morning  to  find  that  he  had  been  anticipated 
by  enterprising  Yankees. 

About  noon  on  Friday,  the  roth,  heavy  firing  was 
heard  in  the  direction  of  Franklin,  and  in  a  moment  all 
was  excitement  at  the  camp.  Without  delay  a  line  of 
battle  was  formed  and  the  entire  command  was  ready 
for  action.  But  the  force  at  Franklin  was  sufficient  to 
repulse  the  enemy,  who  made  a  very  determined  attack 
with  a  large  force  after  two  hours  fighting.  The  enemy's 
cavalry  charged  through  the  line  of  outposts  and  dashed 
into  the  town,  which  lies  on  the  south  side  of  the  river. 
Some  of  the  most  reckless  of  his  troopers  rode  almost  to 
the  bridge  across  the  Harpeth,  just  beyond  which  was  a 
force  of  over  seven  thousand  Federals,  supported  by  the 
artillery  in  Fort  Granger.  When  he  retired,  the  enemy 
left  nineteen  dead  in  the  town  and  quite  a  number  of 
wounded.  It  is  difficult  to  see  just  why  this  attack  was 
made  and  so  suddenly  abandoned.  But  many  queer 
manoeuvres  were  made  by  the  enemy  and  some  ex- 
traordinary events  occurred  in  and  near  Franklin,  while 
the  Eighty-fifth  lay  at  Brentwood. 

Major  Earl  Van  Dorn  resigned  his  commission  in  the 
Second  United  States  cavalry  on  January  3ist,  1861. 
Major  Van  Dorn  had  been  educated  at  West  Point  at  the 


April,  1863.  BRENTWOOD,  TENNESSEE.  85 

expense  of  the  United  States.  On  June  loth,  of  the 
same  year,  William  O.  Williams,  a  first  lieutenant  in  the 
regiment  of  which  Van  Dorn  was  major,  resigned,  and 
both  at  once  engaged  in  open  Rebellion.  They  had  sworn 
to  defend  the  flag  and  support  the  constitution  of  the 
Federal  Union,  nevertheless  they  immediately  engaged 
in  a  wicked  conspiracy  to  disgrace  the  one  and  subvert 
and  overthrow  the  ether.  But  an  avenging  hand  was 
pursuing  them,  and  both  met  a  well-deserved  but  tragic 
fate.  One  fell  by  the  hand  of  a  comrade  whose  brain  had 
been  crazed  when  he  learned  that  his  young  wife  had 
been  defiled  by  a  brother  officer;  the  other  died  at  the 
end  of  a  rope  after  having  been  duly  convicted  as  a  spy. 

Van  Dorn  was  made  a  lieutenant-general  in  the  rebel 
army,  and  after  being  defeated  at  Corinth  and  luka,  in 
Mississippi,  he  was  sent  with  his  command  to  reinforce 
the  army  under  General  Bragg  in  Tennessee.  He  was 
placed  in  command  of  the  left  wing  of  Bragg' s  army,  and 
for  a  time  in  the  spring  of  1863,  himself  and  staff  were  at 
Spring  Hill,  about  midway  between  Franklin  and  Co- 
lumbia. While  at  Spring  Hill,  Van  Dorn  enjoyed  the 

hospitality  of  one  Dr.  V ,  whose  two  sons  were  in  the 

rebel  army.  His  only  daughter  was  living  at  home,  while 
her  husband,  Dr.  Peters,  was  a  surgeon  in  the  Confeder- 
ate army.  Soon  after  the  enemy  retreated  from  Spring 
Hill,  Dr.  Peters  returned  home,  to  find  that  while  a  guest 
at  her  father's  house,  Van  Dorn  had  dishonored  his 
young  wife.  When  he  learned  of  the  scandal,  Dr.  Peters 
mounted  his  horse  and  rode  over  to  Columbia,  handed 
the  reins  to  an  orderly  at  headquarters,  entered  the  gen- 
eral's tent  and  shot  and  instantly  killed  Van  Dorn.  Then 
before  those  at  headquarters  recovered  from  their  sur- 


86  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  April,  1863. 

prise.  Peters  threw  himself  into  his  saddle  and  rode  into 
the  Union  lines,  where  he  told  what  he  had  done,  and 
claimed  the  protection  of  the  flag  he  had  insulted — the 
country  he  had  tried  to  overthrow. 

Late  one  afternoon  two  men  rode  into  the  Union 
camp  at  Franklin,  Tennessee,  and  proceeded  to  the  head- 
quarters of  Colonel  J.  P.  Baird,  of  the  Eighty-fifth  Indi- 
ana infantry,  then  commanding  the  post.  To  him  they 
introduced  themselves  as  Colonel  Orton  and  Major  Dun- 
lap,  inspector-generals  of  the  United  States  army.  They 
presented  an  order  from  the  war  department  at  Wash- 
ington, directing  Colonel  Orton,  in  company  with  Major 
Dunlap,  to  proceed  to  make  a  careful  inspection  of  the 
outposts  and  defenses  of  the  Union  army  in  Tennessee. 
They  also  presented  an  order  from  General  Rosecrans, 
then  at  Murfreesboro,  to  all  officers  commanding  out- 
posts and  detachments  to  afford  every  facility  possible  to 
enable  these  officers  to  promptly  perform  their  duties. 
The  papers  appeared  to  be  genuine,  and  the  soldierly 
bearing  and  fine  address  of  the  men  won  the  entire  con- 
fidence of  Colonel  Baird.  He  accompanied  them  in  their 
examination  of  the  defenses,  and  was  complimented  by 
them  upon  the  splendid  sanitary  condition  of  the  camp. 
On  returning  to  headquarters  he  gave  them  a  substan- 
tial supper,  and  upon  the  request  of  Colonel  Orton,  he 
loaned  the  men  fifty  dollars.  In  the  dusk  of  the  evening 
the  men,  after  stating  that  they  were  going  to  Nashville, 
started  in  that  direction.  But  fortunately  Colonel  Wat- 
kins,  of  the  Sixth  Kentucky  cavalry,  was  at  headquarters 
when  the  men  rode  away,  and  suspecting  that  they  might 
not  be  what  they  appeared,  he  concluded  to  satisfy  him- 
self as  to  their  real  character,  and  calling  his  orderly  to 


April,  1863,  BRENTWOOD,  TENNESSEE.  87 

follow,  Watkins  was  off  in  hot  pursuit.  It  was  getting 
dark  and  there  was  no  time  to  call  a  guard,  so  Watkins 
instructed  his  orderly  to  unsling  his  carbine  and  carry  it. 
at  a  ready,  and  when  they  overtook  the  men,  if  he  saw 
any  suspicious  motions  on  the  part  of  either  to  fire  on 
them  without  waiting  for  orders.  The  men  were  quickly 
overtaken  and  informed  that  Colonel  Baird  wanted  them 
to  return  to  headquarters,  as  he  desired  to  make  some 
further  inquiries.  After  expressing  surprise  at  the  re- 
quest, and  offering  some  remonstrance  on  account  of  the 
lateness  of  the  hour,  and  the  distance  they  had  to  travel, 
they  consented  to  return.  Colonel  Watkins  led  them 
to  his  own  tent,  where  he  placed  them  under  guard,  and 
relieved  them  of  their  side  arms.  They  complained  of 
this  as  an  indignity  offered,  but  when  the  major's  sword 
was  drawn  from  the  scabbard  these  words  were  found  on 
its  blade:  "Lieut.  W.  G.  Peter,  C.  S.  A."  Upon  a 
further  search  many  papers  were  discovered  on  their  per- 
sons, which  showed  that  they  were  rebel  spies,  and  they 
then  confessed  the  whole  matter.  The  facts  were  tele- 
graphed to  General  Rosecrans,  who  ordered  that  the 
prisoners  be  tried  by  a  drum-head  court-martial,  and  if 
found  guilty,  that  they  be  hanged  immediately. 

The  court  convened,  and  before  daylight  the  case 
had  been  decided,  and  the  prisoners  informed  that  they 
must  prepare  for  immediate  death  by  hanging.  When 
they  learned  that  they  were  to  be  hanged,  they  requested 
that  the  sentence  be  commuted  to  being  shot  to  death 
with  musketry,  but  this  request  could  not  be  granted. 
A  chaplain  of  the  command  visited  the  condemned  men, 
and  at  their  request  administered  the  sacrament  to  them. 
A  scaffold  was  erected  in  a  public  place  near  the  depot, 


HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  April,  1863. 

with  two  ropes  hanging  from  the  beam.  At  nine  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  the  garrison  was  paraded  around  the 
scaffold,  near  which  lay  two  coarse  board  coffins. 
Twenty  minutes  later  the  guards  escorted  the  prisoners 
within  the  hollow  square  of  glistening  steel,  and  with 
firm  and  steady  step  they  mounted  the  fatal  cart,  appar- 
ently unmindful  of  the  awful  fate  awaiting  them.  Hand- 
kerchiefs were  tied  over  their  faces  and  the  rope  adjusted 
to  their  necks.  They  requested  the  privilege  of  bidding- 
each  other  farewell,  which  was  promptly  granted,  and 
they  tenderly  and  lovingly  embraced  each  other.  Then 
the  cart  moved  from  under  them  and  they  hung  in  the 
air.  When  life  was  pronounced  extinct  by  the  attending 
surgeon  they  were  placed  in  the  rude  coffins  in  their  full 
dress,  and  buried  in  one  grave,  companions  in  life  and 
crime,  and  in  death  they  were  not  separated. 

The  elder  and  leader  of  these  reckless  men  turned  out 
to  be  First  Lieutenant  William  O.  Williams,  who  re- 
signed from  the  Second  United  States  cavalry  at  the  be- 
ginning of  the  rebellion.  Later  he  seemed  to  have  been 
inspector-general  on  the  staff  of  General  Bragg,  but 
more  recently  he  had  been  in  command  of  a  brigade  of 
Confederate  cavalry  under  his  old-time  comrade  Van 
Dorn.  The  other  victim  of  this  mad-cap  adventure  was 
Walter  G.  Peter,  who  was  a  tall,  handsome  young  man, 
about  twenty-five  years  old,  but  of  whom  nothing  further 
could  be  learned.  Both  were  men  of  captivating  address, 
finely  educated  and  of  rare  intelligence,  but  they  must 
have  been  sadly  lacking  in  judgment  to  engage  in  such 
reckless  folly  as  that  which  cost  their  lives.  History  fails 
to  furnish  a  parallel  in  the  character  and  standing  of  the 
parties,  the  recklessness  of  the  undertaking,  and  the 


April.  1863.  BRENTWOOD,  TENNESSEE.  89 

swiftness  with  which  discovery  and  punishment  were 
visited  upon  them. 

Monday,  the  27th,  the  entire  command  was  called 
out  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  after  marching 
some  two  miles  or  more  to  the  south,  remained  in  line  of 
battle  and  under  arms  until  after  daylight.  In  the  mean- 
time, the  Sixth  Kentucky  cavalry,  under  Colonel  Wat- 
kins,  who  was  out  on  a  surprise  party,  descended  upon  a 
rebel  camp  in  the  Tank  hills,  and  captured  one  hundred 
and  twenty-eight  prisoners,  three  hundred  horses  and 
mules,  eight  wagons,  and  a  complete  outfit  for  a  large 
force.  The  expedition  was  well  planned,  and  brilliantly 
executed,  reflecting  great  credit  on  the  Kentuckians  and 
their  dashing  commander. 

Thursday,  the  3Oth,  was  set  apart  by  President  Lin- 
coln as  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  and  the  commanding 
general  issued  an  order  that  the  day  be  observed  by  ap- 
propriate religious  service.  Consequently  there  was  no 
drill  or  dress  parade,  but  in  the  morning  there  was  mus- 
ter and  inspection,  and  the  chaplain  preached  a  sermon  in 
the  afternoon.  The  chaplain  of  the  Eighty-fifth  was 
greatly  respected — even  loved  by  the  men.  He  mainly 
devoted  his  time  to  works  which  helped  to  promote  their 
comfort  and  welfare,  and  thus  endeared  himself  to  the 
soldiers. 

The  men  were  not  in  the  service  on  account  of  the 
wages,  nevertheless  they  watched  eagerly  for  pay-day, 
and  wanted  a  settlement  with  the  United  States  as  soon 
as  possible  after  their  money  became  due.  That  was  one 
of  the  links  that  kept  the  soldier  in  touch  with  his  family 
and  home.  Early  in  the  month  of  May,  the  troops  at 
Brentwood  received  four  months'  pay,  and  the  long- 


90  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  May,  1863. 

delayed  remittances  could  be  made  to  those  at  home, 
where  the  money  would  prove  most  welcome,  although 
the  amount  was  small.  At  this  time  the  express  com- 
panies would  not  guarantee  safe  delivery  on  account  of 
the  risk  on  part  of  the  route  northward,  but  officers  who 
had  resigned  or  soldiers  who  had  been  discharged  for  dis- 
ability, lent  their  kindly  offices  in  this  behalf,  and  so  far 
as  the  writer  knows  no  one  betrayed  the  trust  reposed  in 
them.  Then  there  were  many  who  liked  to  fold  up  the 
crisp  new  bills  and  put  them  in  a  letter  and  send  it  to  the 
woman  who  always  wrote  so  cheerfully,  regardless  of  the 
suspense  that  made  even  her  dreams  a  source  of  agony. 
Some  had  arrearages  to  settle  with  the  sutler  for  goods 
had  and  consumed,  others  found  a  charge  for  extra  cloth- 
ing or  lost  accoutrements  standing  against  their  names 
on  the  pay-roll,  which  reduced  the  amount  coming  to 
them,  and  a  few  retained  a.  little  change  to  invest  in 
chuck-a-luck  and  draw-poker,  but  almost  everyone  sent 
part  of  his  pay  to  friends  at  home. 

The  Eighty-fifth  remained  at  Brentwood  with  the 
other  regiments  of  the  brigade  until  the  first  of  June,  and 
as  no  important  event  occurred  beyond  the  ordinary  rou- 
tine of  camp  duty,  an  account  of  the  daily  doings  of  the 
command  would  prove  rather  monotonous.  About  the 
middle  of  the  month  General  Morgan  took  the  First  bri- 
gade and  returned  to  Nashville,  which  increased  the  daily 
detail  for  picket  duty.  But  for  much  the  greater  part  of 
the  time  the  weather  was  all  that  could  be  desired,  and 
the  stay  at  Brentwood  was  about  as  near  ideal  soldiering 
as  the  regiment  was  ever  destined  to  see. 

Here,  as  elsewhere,  the  men  in  the  ranks  were  much 
given  to  speculation  concerning  future  movements  of  the 


May,  1863.  BRENTWOOD,  TENNESSEE.  91 

army.  They  could  not  know  what  unseen  complications 
their  commander  had  to  deal  with,  nor  what  sinister  in- 
fluences sometimes  frustrated  the  best  laid  plans.  But 
frequently  they  anticipated  important  events,  with  as 
much  accuracy  as  if  they  had  been  fully  advised.  They 
kept  themselves  thoroughly  posted  on  the  movements  of 
all  the  armies  of  the  Union.  They  knew  that  Grant  was 
smashing  things  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy  at  Vicksburg, 
and  never  doubted  his  entire  success.  They  also  knew 
of  the  second  invasion  of  the  North  by  General  Lee,  but 
had  no  fear  but  what  he  would  be  overthrown  when  the 
hour  of  battle  should  come. 

On  Wednesday,  May  6th,  Major  Samuel  P.  Cum- 
mings  resigned  and  returned  home,  whereupon  Captain 
Robert  G.  Rider,  of  Company  K,  was  promoted  to  be 
major;  First  Lieutenant  Samuel  Yates  was  made  captain 
of  Company  K ;  Second  Lieutenant  Isaac  C.  Short  being 
promoted  first  lieutenant,  and  Private  Eli  F.  Niekirk  was 
promoted  to  second  lieutenant. 

On  the  Qth,  Captain  William  H.  Marble,  of  Company 
I,  resigned,  First  Lieutenant  David  M.  Holstead  being- 
made  captain ;  Second  Lieutenant  Albert  P.  Britt  was 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant,  and  First  Sergeant  Albert 
O.  Collins  promoted  to  be  second  lieutenant.  On  the 
1 4th,  Captain  David  Maxwell,  of  Company  H,  resigned 
and  returned  home,  whereupon  First  Lieutenant  James 
T.  McNeil  was  promoted  to  be  captain,  and  First  Ser- 
geant Tra  A.  Mardis  was  made  first  lieutenant. 

The  service  at  Brentwood  improved  the  health  of  the 
command,  and  the  death  rate  decreased.  Those  dying 
during  the  months  of  April  and  May  were:  John  S. 
Gardner,  George  Hcwell  and  Idea  F.  Peters,  of  Com- 


92  HISTORY  OF  THE  85?H  ILLINOIS.  June,  1863. 

pany  A ;  Corporal  Almon  Brooks,  of  Company  C ;  Isaac 
Stilts,  of  Company  D;  William  Deford,  of  Company  F; 
Michael  Fawcette  and  Franklin  Kerns,  of  Company  G, 
all  of  whom  died  in  the  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 


Wednesday,  June  3rd,  the  defenses  at  Brentwood 
were  demolished,  and  the  brigade  returned  to  Nashville 
that  evening.  The  Eighty-fifth  occupied  its  former 
camp  ground,  which  the  men  thoroughly  cleaned,  but 
they  missed  the  shade  the  trees  at  Brentwood  afforded, 
and  the  pure  spring  water  found  there  so  abundant  and 
easy  of  access.  Company  and  battalion  drill  was  had 
each  day,  and  the  brigade  was  again  called  upon  to  fur- 
nish heavy  details  for  train  guard.  No  train  was  per- 
mitted to  leave  for  the  front  at  Murfreesboro  without  at 
least  one  car  filled  with  soldiers  ready  for  instant  battle. 
Every  possible  effort  was  being  put  forth  to  accumulate 
sufficient  supplies  of  forage,  provisions  and  ammunition 
at  the  front  to  enable  the  army  to  advance  against  tht 
enemy.  New  clothing  was  issued  to  the  men  at  Mur- 
freesboro, the  excess  of  baggage  was  stored  or  destroyed, 
and  the  allowance  of  tents  and  camp  equipment  greatly 
reduced  in  expectation  of  a  vigorous  campaign. 

June  1 4th,  Colonel  Robert  S.  Moore  resigned  his 
commission  on  account  of  failing  health,  whereupon 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Caleb  J.  Dilworth  was  promoted  to 
be  colonel,  Surgeon  James  P.  Walker  being  made  lieu- 
tenant colonel,  and  Assistant  Surgeon  Philip  L.  Dieffen- 
bacher  surgeon. 

On  the  23rd,  General  Rosecrans  moved  his  army 
against  the  enemy,  and  in  a  campaign  of  nine  days,  con- 
ducted in  a  series  of  rain  storms  the  like  of  which  had  not 


CLAKIC    X.   ANJXRU.S, 

AD.TUTAN'T. 


ftM    V  or  ILLINOIS 


July,  1863.  RETURN  TO  NASHVILLE.  95 

before  occurred  in  Tennessee  at  that  season  of  the  year, 
drove  General  Bragg  and  his  army  beyond  the  Cumber- 
land mountains.  Through  this  brief  but  brilliant  cam- 
paign, Middle  Tennessee  was  again  placed  in  possession 
of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  General  Rosecrans 
lost  in  killed,  wounded  and  captured  five  hundred  and 
eighty  men.  Bragg's  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was 
not  ascertained,  but  he  left  behind  him  as  prisoners  six- 
teen hundred  and  thirty-four  men,  eleven  pieces  of  artil- 
lery, and  a  large  amount  of  stores  and  supplies.  Bragg's 
army  arrived  in  Chattanooga  during  the  first  week  in 
July,  where  he  established  headquarters,  and  at  once 
began  to  fortify  his  position,  and  so  that  ,point  became 
the  objective  of  the  next  campaign. 

On  Monday,  June  3Oth,  the  brigade  moved  out  to 
Murfreesboro,  Colonel  Daniel  McCook  having  been  as- 
signed to  the  command  of  that  important  point.  Major 
Robert  G.  Rider,  of  the  Eighty-fifth,  was  assigned  to 
duty  as  provost  marshal,  and  the  brigade  at  once  took  up 
the  routine  of  garrison  life.  The  town  was,  or  rather 
had  been,  a  wealthy  place,  and  was  surrounded  by  a  rich 
agricultural  country,  in  which  the  planters  were  as 
wealthy  as  they  were  disloyal.  Their  former  slaves  were 
enlisting  in  the  Union  army  in  large  numbers,  and  col- 
ored regiments  were  being  rapidly  organized.  Ready 
imitators,  these  freedmen  were  quick  to  learn  military 
drill,  and  in  a  very  short  time  excelled  in  the  manual  of 
arms. 

Friday,  July  iQth,  the  brigade  was  relieved  from  duty 
at  Murfreesboro  and  returned  to  Nashville.  The  army 
at  the  front  was  accumulating  supplies  at  Winchester, 
and  soon  after  this  the  railroad  was  repaired  and  trains 

7 


96  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  July,  1863. 

ran  to  Stevenson,  Alabama.  To  escape  the  tedious  rou- 
tine of  camp  duty,  enough  men  usually  volunteered  to 
supply  train  guards — the  men  considering  that  a  visit  to 
the  front,  where  all  would  like  to  be,  more  than  repaid 
the  toil  and  risk  entailed.  At  this  period  General  Mor- 
gan established  brigade  and  division  drills,  and  the  after- 
noon of  each  day  was  devoted  to  manouevres  of  the 
entire  command.  The  intense  heat  of  mid-summer  was 
at  times  rather  trying,  but  these  drills  added  much  to  the 
efficiency  of  the  command  in  the  part  it  was  soon  called 
upon  to  act.* 

The  quartermaster,  Holaway  W.  Lightcap,  resigned 
on  July  3Oth,  but  his  successor  was  not  appointed  until 
some  six  months  later. 

There  were  but  two  deaths  in  the  months  of  June  and 
July,  and  both  occurred  in  the  hospital  at  Nashville. 
George  Hodge,  of  Company  F,  died  on  June  I7th,  and 
Gibson  Bass,  of  Company  A,  on  July  3rd. 

*  The  following  spirited  description  of  one  of  our  division  drills 
is  copied,  with  a  few  verbal  changes,  from  the  Rev.  Nixon  B. 
Stewart's  History  of  the  Fifty-second  Ohio:  "The  polished  steel 
glitter's  and  the  flags  dance  in  the  sunlight,  as  the  various  regi- 
ments form  a  dark  blue  line.  Aids  gallop  out  from  the  group 
around  the  general,  down  the  line  and  back  to  position  again. 
The  bugles  blow  and  the  stately  line  is  a  column.  It  was  a  line 
of  battle,  it  is  an  order  of  march.  The  bugles  blow  on,  and  the 
field  is  checkered  with  squads,  like  a  chess-board  for  a  mighty 
game.  They  are  as  true  as  a  die,  as  exact  as  a  problem  in  Euclid. 
They  wheel  again,  enclosing  a  square  with  steel-crowned  walls. 
In  equal  spaces,  within  the  walls  stands  Barnett's  battery.  How 
it  got  there  no  one  can  tell.  In  an  instant  there  is  a  glitter  and  a 
flash.  The  cavalry  is  upon  them.  The  battery  disappears,  the 
lines  of  the  square  wheel  into  column,  the  column  into  lines,  and 
the  battalions  march  away.  In  all  there  is  no  shout,  no  oath,  no 
loud  command.  General  Morgan  is  an  artist  in  handling  troops, 
and  as  he  sits  away  yonder  on  his  horse,  he  molds  and  fashions 
the  thousands  of  his  command  at  will." 


August,  1863.          THE  MARCH  TO  CHATTANOOGA.  97 

CHAPTER  X. 


From  the  first  of  July  to  the  middle  of  August  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  occupied  a  line  from  Win- 
chester to  McMinnville,  in  readiness  to  cross  the  Cum- 
berland mountains  and  seize  Chattanooga  as  soon  as  suf- 
ficient supplies  could  be  secured.  To  the  accomplish- 
ment of  this  purpose  all  energies  were  directed,  and  even 
the  ripening  corn  in  the  Tennessee  valley  was  relied  upon 
to  furnish  a  part  of  the  forage  necessary  for  the  animals. 
In  view  of  the  strength  of  Chattanooga  against  direct 
attack  General  Rosecrans  resorted  again  to  a  flank  move- 
ment to  dislodge  his  antagonist,  directing  his  first  ma- 
noeuvres so  as  to  mislead  the  enemy  with  regard  to  his 
ultimate  design.  The  crossing  of  the  mountain  range 
was  begun  on  the  i6th,  and  by  the  evening  of  the  2Oth. 
the  advance  of  the  Federal  army  arrived  at  Bridgeport, 
the  point  selected  for  crossing  the  Tennessee  river. 
Bragg  was  now  forced  to  concentrate  his  entire  com- 
mand south  of  the  Tennessee,  and  the  withdrawal  of  his 
raiding  troopers  permitted  Rosecrans  to  reduce  the  gar- 
risons at  various  points  in  his  rear,  and  thus  reinforce 
his  army  at  the  front. 

Thursday  morning,  August  2Oth,  the  Eighty-fifth 
received  orders  to  turn  over  to  the  quartermaster  the 
large  Sibley  tents  drawn  at  Peoria,  and  be  ready  to  march 
at  a  moment's  notice.  In  a  remarkably  short  time  the 
canvas  village  disappeared,  and  the  tents  were  rolled  up 
and  placed  in  army  wagons  waiting  to  haul  them  to  stor- 
age warehouses  in  the  city.  Many  of  the  camp  conven- 
iences were  destroyed,  and  the  command  was  soon 


98  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          August,  1863. 

stripped  to  light  marching  order.  The  Second  brigade, 
under  command  of  Colonel  McCook,  moved  out  on  the 
Franklin  pike  about  noon,  and  camped  that  night  at 
Brentwood. 

The  next  day  the  command  marched  to  Franklin, 
and  the  Eighty-fifth  camped  near  the  railway  bridge, 
remaining  there  several  days.  General  Morgan's  orders 
directed  him,  while  moving  to  the  front  by  easy  marches, 
to  protect  the  mechanics  and  laborers  while  repairing 
the  railroad  from  Nashville  to  Stevenson,  thereby  open- 
ing up  another  line  of  supplies,  a  matter  of  vital  impor- 
tance to  the  army  now  nearing  Chattanooga.  When  the 
brigade  left  Franklin,  the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  was  de- 
tached and  marched  throughout  the  journey  some  three 
or  four  days  in  the  rear  of  the  main  column. 

The  distance  from  Nashville  to  Chattanooga  by  the 
route  over  which  the  Eighty-fifth  marched  was  two  hun- 
dred miles.  Of  the  towns  along  the  route  Franklin, 
Columbia  and  Pulaski  in  Tennessee,  and  Athens  and 
Huntsville  in  Alabama,  were  the  most  important.  Co- 
lumbia was  a  fine  old  town,  the  early  home  of  James  K. 
Polk,  the  eleventh  President  of  the  United  States.  Sit- 
uated on  high  ground  in  a  deep  bend  of  Duck  river,  it 
was  supplied  with  water  from  that  stream  in  a  curious 
and  primitive  manner.  A  huge  water  wheel  was  thrust 
out  into  the  river,  which  the  rapid  current  caused  to  re- 
volve, and  a  long  rod  attached  to  a  crank  on  the  shaft  of 
this  wheel,  supplied  the  motive  power  to  the  town  pump. 

The  First  brigade,  which  had  been  stationed  some 
forty  miles  south  of  Murfreesboro  for  a  month  or  more, 
moved  to  Columbia  on  August  2Oth,  and  upon  its  arrival 
the  Second  brigade  moved  on  after  a  stay  of  two  days  at 


September,  1863.      THE  MARCH  TO  CHATTANOOGA.  99 

Columbia,  and  the  next  evening  reached  Pulaski.  This 
town  won  much  unenviable  notoriety  soon  after  the  war 
closed.  Here  the  Ku-Klux-Klan  was  organized ;  had  a 
rapid  growth,  and  became  a  menace  to  law  and  order.  It 
spread  rapidly  over  the  South,  and  carried  consternation 
and  desolation  whereverxits  oath-bound  assassins  rode. 
The  "Invisible  Empire,"  as  this  society  of  cut-throats 
was  called,  could  have  existed  in  no  civilized  country  in 
the  world,  unless  encouraged  by  lawless  sentiment  and  a 
lax  administration  of  justice. 

From  Pulaski  the  brigade  moved  steadily  on  through 
Athens,  Huntsville  and  Stevenson,  crossing  the  Tennes- 
see river  at  Bridgeport  on  the  zoth.  That  evening  the 
Eighty-fifth  camped  at  Shellmound,  and  all  had  an  op- 
portunity of  visiting  the  famous  Nick-a-Jack  cave,  from 
whose  cavernous  depths  cooling  waters  issued  from  a 
mammoth  spring.  This  cave  contained  an  extensive 
saltpetre  deposit,  the  most  extensive  within  the  borders 
of  the  ever  narrowing  limits  of  the  Confederacy,  and 
near  by  were  extensive  saltpetre  works,  which  had  fur- 
nished the  insurgents  large  quantities  of  material  for 
gunpowder. 

On  Sunday  afternoon,  September  I3th,  the  Eighty- 
fifth  crossed  the  nose  of  Lookout  mountain.  For  three 
days  past  urgent  orders  had  kept  the  toiling  column 
moving  on,  up  and  down,  over  the  hills  and  through  the 
narrow  valleys,  while  the  scenery  increased  in  grandeur. 
Sand  and  Lookout  mountains  were  bald  peaks,  that 
appeared  near  at  hand,  while  the  weary  soldiers  marched 
many  miles  before  they  reached  the  rugged  base  of  the 
latter.  But  when  the  highest  point  of  the  wagon  road 
was  reached,  the  scene  which  there  opened  out  was  one 


100  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.     September,  1863. 

of  magnificence  and  beauty.  Chattanooga  appeared  in 
the  distance,  while  the  placid  Tennessee  seemed  like  a 
silver  ribbon  winding  in  and  out  among  the  rugged,  tim- 
bered hills  which  lined  its  banks.  To  the  left  were  huge 
ledges  of  rock  that  fell  almost  perpendicular  to  the  river. 
To  the  right  loomed  up  the  palisades,  crowned  by  the 
crest  of  that  soon  to  be  historic  mountain. 

The  brigade  spent  a  restful  day  at  Chattanooga,  and 
on  the  morning  of  the  I5th  it  moved  four  miles  south  to 
Rossville.  At  this  point  a  gap,  through  which  the  road 
from  Chattanooga  to  Lafayette  runs,  cuts  Mission  Ridge 
almost  to  its  base.  Here  the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  re- 
joined the  brigade  on  the  next  day.  General  Morgan, 
commanding  the  Second  division,  having  been  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  post  at  Bridgeport,  with  the  First 
brigade  as  garrison,  the  Second  brigade  was  here  at- 
tached for  the  time  being  to  the  First  division,  under 
command  of  General  James  B.  Steedman.  This  arrange- 
ment continued  until  the  ninth  of  October,  when  a  gen- 
eral reorganization  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  took 
place. 

By  a  series  of  brilliant  manoeuvres  General  Rosecrans 
had  driven  the  rebel  army  under  General  Bragg  over  the 
Cumberland  mountains  and  across  the  Tennessee  river. 
Then,  by  a  skillful  flank  movement,  full  of  audacity,  gen- 
ius and  daring,  he  turned  the  Confederates  out  of  Chat- 
tanooga. Thus,  without  a  battle  or  heavy  skirmish,  the 
"Gateway  to  Georgia,"  and  the  southern  entrance  to 
East  Tennessee,  fell  into  his  hands  as  the  result  of  his 
masterly  strategy.  But  brilliant  campaigns  without  bat- 
tles do  not  destroy  an  army  and  a  campaign  like  that 
from  Tullahoma  to  Chattanooga  always  means  a  battle 


September,  1863.          BATTLE  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  101 

at  some  other  point.  It  was  therefore  evident  to  the 
officers  and  men  of  both  armies  that  they  were  soon  to 
meet  in  deadly  strife,  but  where  and  when  was  a  question 
none  could  answer.  Chattanooga,  with  its  railroads  and 
its  river,  was  a  prize  so  great  and  a  position  so  vital  as  to 
render  it  certain  that  the  Confederate  government  would 
put  forth  every  possible  effort  to  retake  it,  and  that  a  like 
effort  should  be  made  by  the  Federal  government  to 
retain  a  position  of  such  vast  importance.  The  rebel 
government  was  the  first  to  act  with  the  promptness, 
energy  and  decision  demanded  by  the  situation,  and 
Longstreet's  corps,  the  flower  of  the  Army  of  Northern 
Virginia,  composed  of  three  full  divisions,  was  hurried 
by  rail  to  Bragg's  assistance.  Nor  were  Longstreet's 
troops  the  only  reinforcements — two  divisions  from 
Mississippi  and  General  Buckner's  command  from  East 
Tennessee,  arrived  in  time  for  the  coming  battle. 

To  meet  this  largely  reinforced  army  now  confront- 
ing him,  General  Rosecrans  could  only  rely  upon  troops 
drawn  from  garrisons  in  his  rear,  and  these  were  now 
concentrated  at  Rossville  under  the  command  of  Gen- 
eral Gordon  Granger,  and  were  composed  of  the  follow- 
ing commands :  The  First  brigade  of  the  First  division, 
under  command  of  General  Walter  C.  Whittaker;  the 
Second  brigade  of  the  same  division,  under  command  of 
Colonel  J.  G.  Mitchell,  both  of  which  had  marched  from 
the  vicinity  of  Wartrace  and  Shelbyville;  the  Twenty- 
second  Michigan  of  the  First  brigade  of  the  Second 
division  of  the  same  corps,  and  the  Second  brigade  of 
the  same  division, — to  which  brigade  the  Eighty-fifth 
belonged, — under  command  of  Colonel  Daniel  McCook, 
both  of  which  had  marched  from  Nashville.  This  was  a 


102  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.     September,  1863. 

paltry  number,  a  beggarly  reinforcement  compared  with 
the  scores  of  regiments  that  had  been  sent  at  the  call  of 
the  rebel  commander. 

A  very  exciting  event  occurred  while  the  troops  lay 
resting  at  Rossville.  In  the  face  of  stringent  orders  to 
the  contrary,  some  of  the  men  would  evade  the  guards 
and  go  foraging.  Some  men  were  caught  returning 
from  a  trip  of  this  kind,  and  General  Granger,  the  com- 
mander of  the  corps,  in  order  to  impress  the  command 
with  a  due  regard  for  his  authority,  caused  several  men 
to  be  tied  up  by  the  thumbs  near  his  headquarters.  In- 
stantl)7  the  camp  was  filled  with  indignation  at  the  need- 
lessly cruel  treatment  of  the  men.  Officers  demanded 
the  release  of  the  men,  and  thousands  of  soldiers  gath- 
ered near  by.  General  Granger  was  profane  as  usual, 
and  made  terrible  threats,  but  the  murmur  of  suppressed 
excitement  that  ran  through  the  ever-increasing  crowd 
indicated  that  this  was  to  be  a  test  case.  The  men  had 
determined  that  intelligent  volunteers  should  not  be  thus 
cruelly  treated  in  an  active  campaign  in  the  enemy's 
country  and  on  the  eve  of  battle.  But  not  until  a  bat- 
tery was  trained  upon  headquarters,  and  a  given  number 
of  minutes  allowed  for  the  release  of  the  men,  did  the 
general  yield.  Then  he  gave  the  order  for  their  release, 
and  slunk  away  into  his  tent,  cursing  everybody.  He 
did  well  to  surrender ;  had  he  not  heeded  the  demands  of 
the  outraged  soldiers  there  would  have  been  a  tragedy. 
This  was  the  only  approach  to  a  mutiny  the  writer  ever 
witnessed. 

Friday,  the  i8th,  the  Second  brigade  was  ordered  to 
move  out  to  Reed's  bridge,  at  a  crossing  of  the  Chicka- 
matiga,  on  the  Ringgold  road,  but  events  transpired 


September,  1863.          BATTLE  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  103 

which  prevented  the  command  from  reaching-  that  point. 
Arriving  within  a  mile  of  the  bridge  at  dark,  the  skir- 
mishers ran  into  McNair's  rebel  brigade  and  captured 
twenty-two  prisoners.*  As  the  purpose  of  the  expedition 
was  to  reconnoitre  and  not  to  fight,  a  line  of  battle  was 
quickly  formed,  and  the  metf  rested  on  their  arms,  with- 
out fire  for  the  night.  During  the  evening  conversation 
with  the  prisoners  developed  the  fact  that  Bragg  had 
been  largely  reinforced  from  Mississippi,  from  whence 
they  had  recently  come.  The  prisoners  appeared  greatly 
elated  at  the  prospect  of  battle  which  they  claimed  would 
take  place  the  next  day.  In  the  course  of  the  conversa- 
tion, one  of  the  prisoners  stated  that  "Lee  had  sent 
Longstreet's  corps  out  west  to  show  Bragg' s  army  how 
to  fight,"  ending  his  statement  with,  "You  Yanks  will 
find  fighting  to-morrow  such  as  you  have  not  found 
hitherto."  These  statements  were  not  made  in  the  style 
of  mere  bravado,  but  evidently  expressed  the  confidence 
the  enemy  felt  in  his  superior  numbers;  the  assurance 

*  These  prisoners  were  captured  by  Eli  Shields  and  Henry  C. 
Swisher,  of  Company  H;  Thomas  Brown,  Joseph  B.  Shawgo  and 

George  Workman,  of  Company  G,  of  the  Eighty-fifth,  and 

Pierce,  of  the  Fifty-second  Ohio,  at  the  time  mounted  scouts  at 
brigade  headquarters.  The  writer  is  indebted  to  Dr.  Joseph  B. 
Shawgo  for  the  following  racy  account  of  the  affair:  "Eli  Shields 
was  in  the  lead  when  we  ran  into  the  rebel  army  and  had  the 
nerve  to  sing  out  in  a  clear  voice,  "Halt!"  To  this  some  thought- 
ful Johnny  replied,  "Keep  your  dam  mouth  shut!"  We  pulled 
Shields  off  and  pushed  him  back  into  the  brush  out  of  the  imme- 
diate sight  and  hearing  of  the  enemy,  then  crept  back  to  the  road 
and  picked  up  one  after  another,  and  placed  them  with  Eli  to 
guard,  until  we  had  taken  twenty-two  prisoners.  (I  have  been 
telling  the  story  with  thirty-seven  as  the  number  captured,  and 
if  you  had  not  corrected  me,  I  should  have  had  one  hundred  cap- 
tured before  long.)  Among  the  prisoners  were  several  belonging 
to  a  band,  and  their  instruments  were  taken  with  them.  There 
was  also  a  rebel  major,  whose  horse,  a  very  fine  one,  we  gave  to 
Colonel  McCook.  This  horse  was  afterward  known  as  McCook's 
Chickamauga  pacer." 


104  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.     September,  1863. 

that  he  could  return  to  Chattanooga,  and  his  hope  of  de- 
stroying the  Union  army. 

Before  the  first  glimmer  of  dawn  the  next  morning 
the  men  were  ready  for  action.  Nor  had  they  long  to 
wait,  for  at  daylight  the  enemy  advanced  his  skirmishers 
against  the  left  of  the  brigade ;  then  as  it  changed  front 
the  attack  came  from  a  different  direction.  Companies 
D  and  K,  of  the  Eighty-fifth,  were  on  the  skirmish  line, 
and  barely  escaped  capture.  Assailed  on  the  right,  left 
and  rear  with  both  infantry  and  artillery,  the  engagement 
was  fast  becoming  general  when,  at  seven  o'clock,  a  per- 
emptory order  recalled  the  brigade  to  Rossville.  This 
order  came  not  a  moment  too  soon,  as  we  now  know  the 
brigade  had  spent  the  night  in  the  midst  of  an  over- 
whelming force  of  the  enemy,  then  in  position  west  of 
the  creek  and  under  orders  to  attack  at  daylight.  As 
coolly  as  if  on  parade  the  brigade  withdrew,  under  a 
heavy  fire,  in  which  two  men  of  Company  D  were 
wounded  and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

Arriving  at  a  point  where  the  Ringgold  road  enters 
the  road  to  Lafayette,  and  some  three  miles  south  of 
Rossville,  the  command  met  the  head  of  General  Bran- 
nan's  division  of  the  Fourteenth  corps.  The  men  were 
covered  with  dust ;  had  marched  all  night  in  their  effort 
to  reach  the  threatened  point  of  attack,  and  now,  with- 
out rest,  they  resolutely  advanced  against  the  enemy. 
This  division  opened  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  by  a 
determined  and  successful  attack  on  the  advancing 
enemy  within  a  mile  of  the  Lafayette  road.  On  the 
arrival  of  the  brigade  at  Rossville,  fires  were  kindled, 
and  very  soon  the  men  were  enjoying  the  exhilarating- 
coffee  and  the  satisfying  hardtack. 


September,  1863.  BATTLE  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  105 

Throughout  the  I9th  the  roar  of  artillery  and  at 
times  the  rattle  of  fierce  musketry  could  be  heard,  as  the 
tide  of  battle  ebbed  and  flowed  in  the  valley  toward  Lee 
and  Gordon's  Mills.  All  were  favorably  impressed  with 
the  fact  that  few  if  any  stragglers  and  skulkers  came  from 
the  field  where  the  conflict  rage^,  and  although  the  noise 
of  battle  indicated  desperate  fighting,  no  report  of  dis- 
aster reached  the  camp  at  Rossville.  That  evening  the 
brigade  moved  out  on  the  Cleveland  road  to  the  top  of  a 
hill  east  of  Rossville  a  mile  or  more,  and  the  men  lay  in 
line  all  through  the  chilly  night  without  removing  their 
accoutrements,  every  one  clutching  his  rifle  and  thinking 
of  the  morrow.  No  fires  could  be  built ;  even  the  solace 
of  a  cup  of  hot  coffee  was  denied  them,  and  the  teeth 
chattered  as  the  weary  hours  rolled  slowly  by. 

Sunday  morning,  the  2Oth,  opened  with  a  dense  haze 
or  smoke,  which  was  slow  in  rising,  but  soon  after  day- 
light the  brigade  moved  to  McAfee's  Church,  where  it 
remained  in  line  of  battle  until  noon.  About  nine  o'clock 
the  sounds  of  battle  floated  up  from  the  south,  indicating 
a  renewal  of  the  conflict  between  the  main  armies.  The 
roar  deepened  as  the  day  advanced,  and  at  times  mus- 
ketry could  be  plainly  heard  in  ever-increasing  volume. 
Throughout  the  morning  the  enemy's  skirmishers  in  our 
immediate  front  contented  themselves  with  firing  an 
occasional  shot,  showing  that  an  attitude  of  observation 
was  being  maintained,  rather  than  an  advance  contem- 
plated. About  noon  General  Steeclman  led  the  brigades 
of  Whittaker  and  Mitchell  southward,  with  the  sound  of 
battle  as  a  guide.  An  hour  later  Colonel  McCook  re- 
ceived orders  to  move  his  brigade  in  the  same  direction, 
and  the  command  moved  off  at  a  rapid  pace.  When  the 


106  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  IIJJNOIS.     September,  1863. 

Lafayette  road  was  reached  the  column  turned  south, 
and  while  marching  by  the  right  flank  the  enemy  opened 
with  artillery,  which  enfiladed  the  line.  But  steadily  the 
brigade  moved  on  while  shot  and  shell  fell  around  at 
every  step.  The  position  assigned  the  command  was  a 
hill  overlooking  the  McDaniel's  house  and  field,  and 
about  a  mile  north  of  the  left  of  the  line  held  so  stubborn- 
ly by  General  Thomas.  The  hill  commanded  the  road  to 
Rossville,  and  afforded  an  admirable  position  for  defense. 
The  brigade  was  quickly  formed  in  two  lines,  the  Eighty- 
fifth  in  front,  its  left  resting  on  the  battery  and  its  right 
on  the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois,  and  Company  K  deployed 
as  skirmishers.  The  bursting  shells  set  the  woods  'on  fire, 
and  the  first  fight  was  to  prevent  the  fire  from  reaching 
the  dry  weeds  and  high  grass  around  the  battery.  For 
a  time  the  smoke  hid  the  enemy  from  view,  but  soon  the 
fire  was  put  out,  the  smoke  lifted,  and  the  infantry  and 
artillery  of  the  enemy  could  be  seen  in  the  edge  of  the 
timber  beyond  the  McDaniel's  field,  but  beyond  musket 
range. 

After  deliberate  preparation  under  a  shower  of  shot 
and  shell,  the  battery  opened  on  the  enemy  with  such 
accuracy  that  another  rebel  battery  was  brought  into 
action.  At  this  time  the  enemy  was  moving  against  the 
left  and  rear  of  General  Thomas,  and  these  batteries  were 
attempting  to  cover  this  movement,  and  divert  attention 
from  the  manoeuvre.  Then  there  was  "music"  in  the 
air.  Two  rebel  batteries  seemed  to  interest  the  com- 
mander of  the  brigade  battery,  and  in  a  very  short  time 
Captain  Charles  M.  Barnett  blew  up  the  caissons  of  the 
intruding  battery  and  drove  its  remains  from  the  field. 
This  cleared  the  field  for  a  successful  charge,  which  was 


September,  1863.          BATTI,E  OF  CHICKAMAUGA.  107 

promptly  made  by  General  Tttrchin's  brigade,  and  the 
enemy  was  driven  beyond  the  Lafayette  road,  to  the  seiz- 
ure of  which  his  efforts  had  long  been  directed.  Many 
of  Turchin's  men  returning  from  their  brilliant  and  suc- 
cessful charge  passed  through  the  line  of  the  Eighty- 
fifth.  One  of  these  heroes  was  struck  by  a  solid  shot, 
and  had  his  leg  torn  off  while  crossing  the  line  between 
the  regiment  and  battery.  Seemingly  all  the  more  sad, 
as  it  was  almost  the  last  shot  fired  by  the  enemy. 

After  dark  the  brigade  was  ordered  to  retire  quietly, 
and  with  flankers  thrown  out  toward  the  enemy.  As  the 
command  retired,  the  last  to  leave  the  field,  the  rebels 
could  be  seen  around  their  bivouac  fires,  but  showed  no 
desire  to  interrupt  our  movement.  It  was  nearly  mid- 
night when  we  reached  Rossville,  and  the  tired  men 
sought  rest  to  enable  them  to  meet  whatever  fate  had  in 
store  for  them  on  the  morrow.  Some  of  the  commands 
had  been  more  or  less  broken,  and  Monday  morning,  the 
2  ist,  found  the  army  in  some  disorder.  But  by  sunrise 
preparations  were  made  to  defend  a  new  line  by  dispos- 
ing the  available  force  so  as  to  hold  Mission  Ridge.  In 
the  new  line  the  Second  brigade  was  placed  on  the  top  of 
the  Ridge  immediately  south  of  the  Gap.  Throughout 
the  day  it  was  expected  that  the  enemy  would  move  for- 
ward and  attack  the  new  position,  but  their  losses  had 
been  so  heavy  that  they  were  not  anxious  to  renew  the 
battle,  but  contented  themselves  with  a  spirited  recon- 
noisance,  in  which  there  was  sharp  skirmishing,  and  the 
brigade  was  subjected  to  a  severe  artillery  fire.  The 
position  of  the  army  was  admirable  for  defense  against  a 
direct  assault,  but  its  right  might  be  easily  turned,  and 
that  night  after  firing  ceased,  the  army  was  withdrawn  to 


108  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.     September,  1863. 

Chattanooga.     This  was  accomplished  before  daylight 
the  next  morning,  without  confusion  and  without  loss 

Bragg  had  earned  a  tactical  victory  at  immense  cost, 
and  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  had  met  its  first  and 
last  defeat.  But  the  Federal  army  had  retired  deliber- 
ately and  in  good  order  with  its  face  to  the  foe,  to  per- 
manently occupy  Chattanooga,  the  prize  for  which  the 
battle  had  been  fought.  The  men  were  in  wonderful 
spirit,  considering  their  excessive  fatigues  and  heavy 
losses,  and  no  thought  of  further  retreat  was  entertained 
for  a  moment.  All  worked  with  a  will,  and  by  the  time 
the  advance  of  the  enemy  closed  down  on  our  outposts, 
a  line  of  earthworks  extending  from  the  river  above  to 
the  river  below  the  town,  had  been  erected,  which  was 
virtually  impregnable.  The  enemy,  however,  had  no 
intention  of  assaulting  such  well  fortified  lines,  but  con- 
tented himself  with  investing  them  closely.  To  this  end 
he  established  his  right  on  the  crest  of  Mission  Ridge, 
massed  the  bulk  of  his  army  across  the  valley  in  our  im- 
mediate front,  and  with  his  left  occupied  and  fortified 
the  base  of  Lookout  mountain.  Then  the  siege  of  Chat- 
tanooga began. 

Colonel  McCook  reported  the  loss  of  the  brigade  at 
Chickamauga  as  follows:  Two  killed,  14  wounded  and 
thirteen  captured.  There  were  none  killed  in  the  Eighty- 
fifth,  but  the  following  list  gives  the  wounded  and  cap- 
tured : 

WOUNDED— A.  F.  Krebaum,  of  Company  B;  Robert  Neider,  of 
Company  D;  John  R.  Powell,  Frederick  T.  Zellers  and  John  T. 
Zimmerman,  of  Company  H;  Lieutenant  David  M.  Holstead, 
Sergeant  John  E.  Reno  and  Lemuel  Welker,  of  Company  I. 

CAPTURED— Willard  Hicks  and  Robert  Neider,  of  Company  D, 
and  Matthew  L.  Wrigley,  of  Company  F. 


September,  1863.  SIEGE  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  109 

CHAPTER  XL 


On  the  afternoon  of  the  23rd,  General  Steedman's 
division  moved  to  the  north  side' of  the  river,  and  a  line 
was  established,  in  which  each  brigade   occupied  a   de- 
tached camp.     The  First  brigade  on  Moccasin  Point, 
opposite  the  north  end  of  Lookout  mountain ;  the  Sec- 
ond brigade  on  Stringer's  ridge,  opposite  the  city,  while 
to  Colonel  McCook  and  his  brigade  a  camp  was  assigned 
at  Friar's   Ford,  some   six  miles  above   the  city.     The 
camp  of  the  Eighty-fifth  was  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
river,  facing  the  ford,  which  was  opposite  the  north  end 
of  Mission  Ridge,  on  which  the  right  of  the  rebel  line  of 
investment  rested.     The  ridge,  as  well    as  the    narrow 
valley  between  it  and  the  river,  was  covered  with  heavy 
timber.     Pickets  were  posted  on  the  river  bank  in  front 
of  the  camp,  which  was  in  full  view  from  the  other  shore, 
while  the  timber  concealed  the  movements  of  the  enemy 
and  invested  the  opposite  side  of  the  river  with  the  inter- 
est which  always  attaches  to  the  unknown.     Far  in  the 
rear  of  the  camp  rose  Wallen's  Ridge,  with  its  pictur- 
esque palisades.     The  men   were   now  on  half   rations, 
their  clothing  was  worn  and  thin  and  they  were  entirely 
without  tents.     But  timber  was  abundant  and  conven- 
ient in  the  rear  of  the  camp  ,and  very  soon  the  men  built 
for  each  mess  a  small,  but  comfortable  cabin. 

The  only  road  left  open  to  the  rear  was  that  over 
Wallen's  Ridge,  and  down  the  Sequatchie  valley  to 
Bridgeport,  a  distance  of  sixty  miles.  To  supply  an 
army  of  forty  thousand  men  over  this  route  in  fair 
weather  and  with  teams  in  good  condition  was  barely 


110  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  IIvIJNOIS.     September,  1863. 

possible.  But  on  the  first  of  October  the  rainy  season 
set  in,  the  streams,  small  and  insignificant  in  the  dry  sea- 
son, became  raging  torrents,  while  the  incessant  hauling 
rendered  the  road  almost  impassable.  Our  trains  were 
frequently  attacked  by  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy  and  hun- 
dreds of  wagons  were  captured  and  burned.  The  faith- 
ful mules  were  pressed  beyond  endurance  and  became 
exhausted  by  hard  driving  and  lack  of  forage,  and  each 
successive  trip  consumed  a  longer  period  of  time.  Not 
only  that,  but  each  trip  reduced  the  number  of  wagons 
and  the  weight  of  their  contents.  Hundreds  of  mules 
died  from  hard  usage  and  starvation,  until  it  was  said 
with  but  little  exaggeration  that  the  road  from  Chatta- 
nooga to  Bridgeport  was,  when  the  siege  ended,  "walled 
in  with  dead  mules."  At  each  succeeding  issue  the 
rations  were  reduced,  until  goaded  on  by  the  despera- 
tion of  hunger,  the  men  robbed  the  horses  and  mules  of 
the  scanty  pittance  of  corn  given  them,  and  parched  and 
ate  it. 

Over  in  the  city  the  conditions  were  even  worse  than 
with  the  troops  outside.  There  the  thinly  clad  men  not 
only  suffered  from  hunger,  but  also  from  the  scarcity  of 
fuel.  At  first  they  used  the  smaller  branches  of  the  trees 
found  within  the  lines,  and  such  portions  of  the  trunk  as 
could  be  easily  made  into  firewood.  Later  they  were 
glad  to  work  up  and  use  the  tough  and  knotty  parts,  and 
when  these  had  been  consumed  they  attacked  the 
stumps,  and  finally  they  dug  out  the  roots  and  carefully 
gathered  and  used  them  even  to  the  smallest  chip  and 
fragment.  Yet  the  men  were  by  no  means  discouraged, 
each  had  an  abiding  faith  that  help  would  come  from 
some  source,  and  thev  were  determined  to  succeed  in 


HOLOWA5T   W.    LIGHTCAP, 

•wi    Altri'i:  M  \-TI.I:. 


Ill 


September,  1863.  SIEGE  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  113 

driving  the  exultant  enemy  from  his  strongholds  in  their 
front.  During  the  siege  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  was 
much  discussed,  and  as  the  men  reviewed  the  bloody 
struggle  they  found  much  to  criticise.  To  one  and  all 
the  battle  had  been  far  from  satisfactory,  and  without 
unduly  blaming  the  commanding  general,  they  became 
almost  unanimous  in  the  opinion  that  the  army  should 
have  been  concentrated,  communications  firmly  estab- 
lished with  Chattanooga  as  a  base,  and  abundant  supplies 
accumulated  before  a  farther  advance  was  attempted.  It 
was  obvious  to  all  on  the  evening  of  the  first  day's  battle 
that  a  renewal  of  the  conflict  was  inevitable.  As  the  bat- 
tle was  not  renewed  until  nine  o'clock  on  the  morning  of 
the  second  day,  the  men  could  not  understand  why  the 
right  wing,  during  the  interventing  time,  had  not  been 
closed  down  and  firmly  connected  with  the  left.  This 
would  have  obviated  the  necessity  of  moving  troops  in 
that  direction  after  the  battle  opened,  and  prevented  a 
movement  which  resulted  in  hurling  regiments  and  bri- 
gades successively  against  the  compact  masses  of  the 
enemy,  only  to  be  broken  and  swept  from  the  field.  The 
officers  and  men  who  entertained  these  opinions  were 
veteran  soldiers,  whose  gallant  conduct  at  Shiloh,  Perry- 
ville  and  Murfreesboro  had  been  such  as  to  render  prob- 
able their  claim  that  if  the  right  of  the  army  had  been 
retired  during  the  night  following  the  first  day's  fight  to 
a  position  as  strong  for  defense  as  that  selected  by  Gen- 
eral Thomas  for  the  left  wing,  they  could  and  would  have 
repulsed  any  assault  the  enemy  could  possibly  have 
made. 

Long  years  have  passed  since  the   field  of   Chicka- 
mauga was  baptised  into  immortality.     Then  it  was  a 


114  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.     September,  1863. 

dense  forest,  with  here  and  there  a  small  clearing  and 
rude  cabin.  Now  it  is  a  national  park,  in  which  the 
positions  occupied  by  the  contending  forces  are  accur- 
ately marked  by  tablets,  and  monuments  erected  to  the 
memory  of  heroes  slain  in  battle.  Owing  to  the  timber 
and  underbrush,  compartively  little  could  be  seen  of  the 
deadly  struggle  by  the  general  officers,  much  less  by  line 
officers  or  enlisted  men,  except  of  their  immediate  sur- 
roundings. Divisions,  brigades,  and  even  regiments  at 
times  became  detached  and  had  engagements  that 
seemed  wholly  their  own.  And  in  the  end,  for  bold  at- 
tack, firm  defense  and  desperate  fighting,  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga  became  by  far  the  most  sanguinary  con- 
flict of  the  West. 

The  best  authorities  differ  widely  in  estimating  the 
results  of  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  general  officers 
have  grown  angry  in  discussing  it,  and  often  disagree  as 
to  the  location  and  work  accomplished  by  their  com- 
mands. The  Confederate  general,  Hindman,  says  in  his 
official  report  that  he  had  "never  known  Federal  troops 
to  fight  so  well,  and  that  he  never  saw  Confederate 
troops  fight  better."  The  largest  number  of  troops 
Rosecrans  had  on  the  field  during  the  two  days'  fighting 
was  55,000  effective  men,  out  of  which  his  total  loss 
amounted  to  16,336.  During  the  battle,  when  his  entire 
five  corps  were  engaged,  Bragg  had  about  70,000  troops 
in  line,  but  the  rebel  commander  made  no  detailed  state- 
ment of  his  losses  in  killed  and  wounded,  contenting 
himself  with  the  blunt  statement  in  his  official  report  that 
he  lost  two-fifths  of  his  army.  It  was  a  frightful  loss, 
for  which  no  real  benefits  were  obtained.* 


*  Of  the  results  of  the  battle  the  Confederate  historian,  Pollard, 


September,  1863.  SIEGE  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  115 

On  the  3Oth  occurred  an  explosion  of  ammunition 
piled  up  on  the  hill  at  Bridgeport,  in  which  a  number  of 
men  belonging  to  the  First  brigade  were  killed  and 
wounded.  Finding  but  little  in  the  official  reports  con- 
cerning this  unfortunate  affair,  the  writer  addressed  an 
inquiry  to  Noble  L.  Prentis,  a  member  of  the  Sixteenth 
Illinois,  the  regiment  supposed  to  have  suffered  most  in 
the  accident,  which  elicited  the  following  reply : 

Kansas  City,  March  17th,  1900. 

My  Dear  Aten:  I  saw  the  explosion  of  which  you  write  me.  I 
was  midway  of  the  regiment,  and  the  ordnance  was  piled  up  just 
beyond  Company  K,  the  right  company,  and  between  'their  quar- 
ters and  a  little  square  earthwork  with  a  ditch  around  it.  On  the 
side  of  the  pile  of  boxes  of  ammunition,  etc.,  was  the  regimental 
field  hospital.  There  was  a  flame  like  a  volcano,  and  a  tremend- 
ous roar,  then  a  shroud  of  smoke,  and  the  whole  air  was  full  of 
flying  fragments.  The  men  said  this  was  caused  by  two  barrels  of 
loose  powder  which  went  up  first.*  Then  the  pile  of  boxes  kept 
burning,  and  there  were  constant  explosions,  sometimes  of  fixed 
ammunition  and  sometimes  of  cartridges,  that  lasted  for  hours.  1 
went  up  to  the  place  and  saw  the  dead  mules  'Of  the  wagon  that 
was  either  loading  or  unloading  at  the  pile;  the  tents  of  Company 
K,  "pup  tents,"  were  burning,  and  the  field  hospital  tent  was  burn- 
ing. I  helped  get  the  people  out  of  the  tent  and  into  the  ditch  of 
the  redoubt  I  have  spoken  of,  and  under  a  Sort  of  sally  port  plat- 
form, where  falling  fragments  could  not  reach  them.  I  remember 

says:  "Chlckamaugua  had  conferred  a  brilliant  glory  upon  our 
arms,  but  little  else.  Rosecrans  still  held  the  prize,  Chattanooga, 
and  with  it  the  possession  of  East  Tennessee.  Two-thirds  of  our 
niter-beds  were  in  that  region  and  a  large  part  of  the  coal  supplied 
our  foundries.  It  was  one  of  the  strongest  countries  in  the  world, 
so  full  of  lofty  mountains  that  it  had  been  called,  not  unaptly,  the 
Switzerland  of  America.  As  the  possession  of  Switzerland  opened 
the  door  to  the  invasion  of  Italy,  Germany  and  France,  so  the 
possession  of  East  Tennessee  gave  easy  access  to  Virginia,  North 
Carolina,  Georgia  and  Alabama." 

*  W.  R.,  Part  III,  Vol.  XXX,  page  947,  says,  "Careless  handling  of  box 
percussion  shell." 


116  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          October,  1863. 

a  horse  had  got  into  the  ditch  and  when  an  explosion  occurred  he 
would  shiver  all  over,  and  we  had  to  drive  him  back  when  he  tried 
to  get  under  the  platform  where  the  sick  people  were.  There  were 
people  killed,  and  the  history  of  our  regiment,  Sixteenth  Illinois 
Volunteer  Infantry,  in  the  adjutant  general's  report  (Illinois) 
says  fourteen  were  killed  and  wounded,  but  I  have  been  entirely 
through  the  roll  of  the  regiment  in  the  report  and  cannot  find  a 
man  set  down  as  killed  or  wounded  at  that  time.** 

The  ammunition  pile  was  a  regular  fixture  there,  and  the  men 
made  it  a  lounging  place,  and  there  was  usually  a  crowd,  but  as  I 
remember,  the  Eleventh  corps  people  commenced  arriving  at  the 
depot  that  day,  and  our  folks  went  down  to  look  at  the  "Yankees," 
as  they  called  them. 

I  do  not  know  who  the    fourteen  were.     From    the  report  it 
might  be  inferred  they  were  all  our  people. 
As  ever  yours, 

NOBLE  L.  PRENTIS. 

Following  Chickamauga  there  was  a  reorganization 
of  the  army  in  and  around  Chattanooga.  The  Twen- 
tieth, Twenty-first,  and  reserve  corps  were  broken  up, 
and  the  troops  of  which  they  were  composed  were 
formed  into  a  new  army  corps,  designated  the  Fourth,  or 
added  to  the  Fourteenth  corps,  which,  with  the  Eleventh 
and  Twelfth  corps  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  were 
officially  designated  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland.  In 
the  new  organization  the  Second  brigade,  to  which  the 
Eighty-fifth  was  still  attached,  was  most  fortunate,  the 
Second  brigade  of  the  First,  and  the  First  and  Second 
brigades  of  the  Second  division  of  the  reserve  corps 
forming  the  Second  division  of  the  Fourteenth  corps. 
Additional  regiments  were  added  to  the  brigade,  and 
Brigadier  General  Jefferson  C.  Davis  was  assigned  to  the 
command  of  the  division,  the  corps  being  commanded 
by  Major  General  George  H.  Thomas.  This  division 


»*  W.  R.,  Part  IV,  Vol.  XXX,  page  19,  gives,  "7  killed  and  12  wounded. 


October,  1863.  SIEGE  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  117 

remained  as  then  organized  until  the  close  of  the  war  and 
was  composed  of  the  following  commands : 

SECOND  DIVISION. 
Brigadier  General  Jefferson  C.  Davis,  Commanding. 

FIRST  BRIGADE. 

Brigadier  General  James  D.  Morgan,  Commanding. 
Tenth  Illinois  Infantry — Colonel  John  Tilson. 
Sixteenth  Illinois  Infantry — Colonel  Robert  F.  Smith. 
Sixtieth  Illinois  Infantry — Colonel  W.  B.  Anderson. 
Tenth  Michigan  Infantry — Colonel  C.  J.  Dickerson. 
Fourteenth  Michigan  Infantry — Colonel  H.  K.  Mizner. 

SECOND  BRIGADE. 

Brigadier  General  John  Beatty,  Commanding. 
Ninety-eighth  Ohio  Infantry — Colonel  James  M.  Shane. 
108th  Ohio  Infantry — Major  Joseph  Good. 
113th  Ohio  Infantry— Colonel  J.  G.  Mitchell. 
121st  Ohio  Infantry — Major  John  Yager. 

Thirty-fourth  Illinois  Infantry — Lieut.  Col.  Oscar  Van  Tassel. 
Seventy-eighth  Illinois  Infantry — Colonel  Carter  Van  Vleck. 

THIRD  BRIGADE. 
Colonel  Daniel  McCook,  Commanding. 

Fifty-second  Ohio  Infantry — Lieut.  Col.  Charles  W.  Clancy. 
Eighty-fifth  Illinois  Infantry— Colonel  Caleb  J.  Dilworth. 
Eighty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry — Lieut.  Col.  David  W.  Magee. 
125th  Illinois  Infantry — Colonel  Oscar  F.  Harmon. 
110th  Illinois  Infantry— Lieut.  Col.  E.  H.  Topping. 
Twenty-second  Indiana  Infantry — Colonel  W.  M.  Wiles. 

ARTILLERY. 

Second  Minnesota  Battery — Lieutenant  Richard  L.  Dawley. 
Fifth  Wisconsin  Battery — Captain  George  Q.  Gardner. 
Battery  I,  Second  Illinois — Captain  Charles  M.  Barnett. 

Until  late  in  the  month  the  Third  brigade  patrolled 
the  north  bank  of  the  river  from  Chattanooga  to  Dallas, 
a  distance  of  fourteen  miles,  which  necessitated  heavy 
details  for  patrol  duty.  The  trains  sent  far  into  the 
country  to  procure  forage  for  the  animals  required 


118  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  October,  1863. 

strong  guards  for  their  protection,  and  the  men  were 
kept  exceedingly  busy.  Toward  the  last  of  the  month 
the  First  brigade  arrived  from  Bridgeport,  and  was  sta- 
tioned at  Dallas,  which  afforded  some  relief  to  the  over- 
worked and  underfed  troops.  But  notwithstanding  the 
short  rations,  lack  of  clothing  and  blankets,  the  continu- 
ous exposure,  the  constant  danger,  and  the  anxiety 
sometimes  felt  if  not  expressed  lest  retreat  might  become 
necessary,  and  disaster  to  the  army  and  the  cause  result, 
the  men  were  cheerful  and  uttered  few  complaints. 

Throughout  the  summer  campaigns  there  had  been 
an  evident  lack  of  co-operation  in  the  movements  of  the 
three  armies,  whose  fields  of  operation  were  penetrated 
by  the  Tennessee  river.  True  the  Army  of  the  Tennes- 
see had  won  a  most  brilliant  and  satisfactory  success  in 
the  capture  of  Vicksburg,  but  the  end  of  the  summer 
found  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  on  the  defensive  at 
Chattanooga,  and  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  occupying  a 
like  unsatisfactory  position  at  Knoxville.  In  order  to 
secure  intimate  co-operation  between  these  three  armies 
in  the  future,  the  military  division  of  the  Mississippi  was 
created  by  the  President,  and  General  Grant  assigned  to 
its  command.  This  order  of  the  President  placed  Gen- 
eral Thomas  in  command  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land, and  on  the  2Oth  he  assumed  command  formally, 
and  General  Rosecrans  left  for  Cincinnati  before  it  was 
generally  known  that  he  had  been  relieved. 

General  Rosecrans  was  one  of  the  most  successful 
generals  of  the  Civil  War,  and  perhaps  the  most  brilliant 
strategist.  He  was  a  scholar,  a  philosopher,  an  eminent 
engineer,  and  a  religious  enthusiast.  When  the  war 
broke  out  he  gave  his  whole  soul  to  it,  and  with  one  ex- 


October,  1863.  SIEGE  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  119 

ception  he  was  victorious  in  every  battle.  In  the  early 
campaigns  in  West  Virginia  he  beat  General  Lee  in  bat- 
tle, and  out-general  eel  him  with  his  strategy.  At  luka, 
Corinth  and  Stone  River  his  splendid  dash  along  the 
firing  line  aroused  his  troops  to  an  enthusiasm  which 
won.  His  personal  daring  everywhere  raised  the  spirit 
that  flamed  into  victory,  but  through  a  contingency  that 
could  not  be  foreseen,  disaster  overtook  the  right  wing 
of  his  army  at  Chickamauga,  and  he  was  caught  and 
forced  with  it  off  the  field.  Deceived  by  the  treachery 
of  his  chief  of  staff,  who  was  even  then  intriguing  for  the 
position  of  his  chief,  he  rode  into  Chattanooga.  There 
he  was  helped  out  of  his  saddle  and  assisted  into  depart- 
ment headquarters,  broken  in  body  and  in  spirit.  It  was 
the  turning  point  in  a  successful  career,  and  his  hour  had 
come. 

The  appointment  of  General  Thomas  was  hailed  with 
delight  by  the  entire  army.  Officers  and  men  recognized 
in  this  appointment  a  fitting  reward  for  his  eminent  ser- 
vice, uniform  success  and  unselfish  devotion  to  his  coun- 
try's cause.  In  rain  and  mud  and  cold,  among  the  rough 
hills  and  tangled  woods,  on  the  banks  of  the  Cumber- 
land river  in  January,  1862,  General  Thomas  fought  the 
battle  of  Mill  Springs.  The  enemy  was  routed,  his  gen- 
eral killed  and  his  battle  flags  captured.  It  was  the  first 
decisive  victory  for  the  Union  arms  in  the  west,  and  was 
rich  with  the  spoil  of  the  battlefield.  Twelve  pieces  of 
artillery,  150  wagons,  1,000  head  of  horses  and  mules, 
and  392  killed  and  captured  of  the  enemy,  attest  the  com- 
pleteness of  his  victory.  At  Murfreesboro  when  the 
right  of  the  army  had  been  routed,  it  was  the  center 
under  Thomas  that  repelled  the  assaults  of  the  eager 


120  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.         October,  1863. 

enemy,  although  assailed  with  a  fierceness  and  tenacity 
unsurpassed  in  the  annals  of  war.  And  it  was  Thomas, 
calm  and  self-reliant  in  emergencies,  stubborn  in  defense, 
and  masterful  in  resources  that  met  the  crisis  at  Chicka- 
mauga  and  wrought  out  deliverance  for  our  imperiled 
army.  Indeed,  the  logic  of  the  situation  so  strongly 
pointed  to  Thomas  as  the  future  commander  of  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland,  that  a  rumor  to  that  effect  had 
been  current  in  the  camps  from  the  time  the  army  retired 
to  Chattanooga. 

In  the  meantime,  the  men  had  seen  their  rations  re- 
duced to  one-half,  one-third  and  one-fourth,  but  all  rec- 
ognized the  necessity  for  this  and  no  one  felt  willing  to 
abandon  Chattanooga,  while  the  rebel  flag  floated  in  full 
view  from  Lookout  mountain  and  Mission  ridge.  The 
dispatch  from  General  Thomas  to  General  Grant,  in 
which  he  said,  "We  will  hold  Chattanooga  till  we  starve" 
not  only  expressed  his  own  purpose  but  the  determina- 
tion of  his  men.  It  was  an  heroic  message,  backed  by 
inflexible  faith,  and  invincible  arms.  The  men  felt  that 
they  had  been  forced  to  fight  at  Chickamauga  under  ad- 
verse circumstances,  against  superior  numbers,  and 
under  conditions  which  rendered  success  impossible,  but 
in  leaving  that  field  there  had  been  no  panic,  and  officers 
and  men  were  alike  eager  to  again  try  conclusions  with 
their  old-time  foe. 

On  the  i  Qth  a  detail  from  the  Eighty-fifth  was  en- 
gaged in  gathering  corn  from  a  field  on  an  island  in  the 
river  some  considerable  distance  above  camp.  After 
the  corn  was  gathered  it  had  to  be  brought  across  an  arm 
of  the  river  in  boats  to  a  point  where  it  could  be  loaded 
into  wagons.  On  the  last  trip  one  of  the  boats  capsized, 


October,  1863.  SIEGE  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  121 

and  Corporal  Deford  and  Michael  Rhoads,  of  Company 
F,  were  drowned. 

General  Grant  arrived  on  the  23rd,  and  his  coming 
to  Chattanooga  was  an  event  illustrating  both  his  deter- 
mination and  his  endurance.  A  short  time  previous  his 
horse  had  fallen  and  so  severely  crippled  him  that  he  had 
to  be  lifted  into  and  out  of  his  saddle.  Yet  he  made  the 
difficult  journey  from  Bridgeport  to  Chattanooga  on 
horseback  and  almost  alone.  The  distance  was  forty 
miles,  over  almost  impassable  roads,  strewn  with  broken 
wagons,  dead  mules  and  infested  at  every  turn  with  guer- 
rillas— an  awful  journey  for  even  a  well  man  to  make. 

Previous  to  General  Grant's  arrival  various  plans  for 
opening  a  line  over  which  the  starving  men  and  animals 
might  be  supplied  with  food  and  forage  had  been  pre- 
pared. These  plans  he  examined  the  night  of  his  arrival, 
and  on  the  next  day  he  examined  the  field;  decided  on 
one  of  the  plans,  and  issued  orders  for  its  immediate  exe- 
cution. Before  daylight  on  the  27th,  within  four  days 
after  Grant's  advent,  Lookout  valley  was  seized  and  oc- 
cupied by  General  W.  B.  Hazen  and  a  brigade  of  troops. 
Before  noon  a  pontoon  bridge  was  laid  at  Brown's  Ferry, 
a  short  road  to  Bridgeport  opened  and  the  all-absorbing 
question  of  supplies  was  solved.  This  brilliant  feat  of 
arms,  so  skillfully  executed  by  General  Hazen  and  his 
command,  not  only  completely  surprised  the  enemy,  but 
won  alike  his  admiration.*  It  was  no  longer  a  question 
how  long  we  could  hold  Chattanooga,  but  how  long  the 
enemy  should  be  permitted  to  occupy  Mission  ridge  and 

*  The  Richmond  Press,  in  describing  this  event,  said:  "The 
admirably  conceived  and  perfectly  executed  coup  at  Brown's 
Ferry,  on  the  night  of  the  27th  of  October,  has  robbed  the  Confed- 
eracy of  all  its  dearly  earned  advantages  gained  at  Chickamauga." 


122  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.         October,  1863. 

Lookout  mountain,  and  the  rebel  banners  wave  defiance 
from  their  rugged  heights. 

A  few  days  before  the  opening  of  the  short  line  to 
Bridgeport,  and  the  practical  ending  of  the  siege,  the 
rebel  President  appeared  on  Lookout  mountain,  and 
from  "Pulpit  Rock/'  as  he  looked  down  exultingly  upon 
the  beleagured  army,  predicted  its  utter  ruin.  But  not 
all  of  that  brilliant  group  of  Confederates  seemed  so  san- 
guine of  success.  It  is  said  that  during  this  visit  of  exul- 
tation and  prophecy,  some  one  in  the  party  of  distin- 
guished visitors  remarked  the  beauty  and  the  grandeur 
of  the  scene,  to  which  a  cool  headed  officer  replied, 
"Truly  a  fine  scene,"  adding  in  an  undertone,  "but  a 
damned  poor  prospect." 

William  Tiery,  of  Company  H,  died  at  Nashville  on 
August  1 2th;  Albert  J.  Hamilton,  of  Company  D,  died 
October  nth,  and  John  W.  Snodgrass,  of  Company  H, 
died  at  Chattanooga,  October  8th. 

On  the  6th  Lieutenant  Colonel  James  P.  Walker  was 
dismissed  from  the  service,  but  his  successor  was  not 
appointed  until  long  afterward.  On  the  7th  William  W. 
Walker,  first  lieutenant  of  Company  C,  resigned  and 
returned  home.  Second  Lieutenant  James  M.  Hamilton 
being  promoted  to  first  lieutenant.  On  the  27th  Andrew 
F.  J.  Sharkey,  second  lieutenant  of  Company  E,  resigned 
but  the  company  was  now  too  small  to  be  entitled  to 
three  commissioned  officers.  Robert  A.  Bowman,  first 
lieutenant  of  Company  F,  resigned  on  the  I7th  and  Ser- 
geant Andrew  J.  Mason  was  appointed  his  successor. 
On  the  loth  Edwin  D.  Lampett,  second  lieutenant  of 
Company  F,  resigned,  but  no  successor  was  appointed. 
David  M.  Holstead,  captain  of  Company  I,  resigned  on 


November,  1863.      BATTLES  NEAR  CHATTANOOGA.  123 

the  7th,  and  Second  Lieutenant  Albert  O.  Collins  was 
promoted  to  be  captain.  On  the  2/th  Albert  P.  Britt, 
second  lieutenant  of  Company  I,  resigned  and  Private 
Preston  C.  Hudson  was  promoted  to  be  his  successor. 


CHAPTER  XII. 


The  plan  prepared  by  General  Grant  for  the  battle 
of  Chattanooga  provided  for  an  attack  on  the  rebel  right 
flank,  supposed  to  rest  on  the  north  end  of  Mission 
ridge.  The  defective  maps  of  that  period  showed  that 
this  ridge  extended  to  the  river,  but  the  view  from  our 
camp  discredited  the  maps,  and  the  dense  forest  beyond 
the  river  concealed  the  enemy  and  his  line  of  defenses. 
It  therefore  became  necessary  to  learn  where  the  right 
of  the  enemy  rested,  and  the  nature  of  the  ground  over 
which  the  attacking  columns  must  move  after  crossing 
the  river.  On  the  7th  General  Thomas  requested  Col- 
onel McCook  to  select  a  man  of  known  courage  and 
sound  discretion  to  cross  the  river  at  night  and  hide  by 
day,  while  examining  the  ground  between  the  river  and 
the  enemy's  right.  For  this  hazardous  and  delicate 
duty  Colonel  McCook  selected  Captain  James  T. 
McNeil,  of  Company  H,  of  the  Eighty-fifth. 

Captain  McNeil  made  several  trips  across  the  river, 
from  which  he  returned  in  safety,  but  on  the  fifth  trip 
Captain  Pleasant  S.  Scott,  of  Company  E,  accompanied 
him,  and  both  were  captured  and  sent  to  Libby  Prison 
at  Richmond.  Both  escaped  after  many  hardships  and 
returned  to  the  regiment  during  the  winter,  when  we 


124  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      November,  1863. 

learned  the  particulars  of  tfieir  adventures  in  the  Con- 
federacy. Captain  McNeil,  with  others,  were  caught  in 
the  act  of  digging  a  tunnel,  through  which  they  hoped 
to  escape,  and  for  a  time  he  was  confined  in  a  dungeon. 
After  his  release  from  the  dungeon  he  succeeded  in  trad- 
ing for  the  uniform  of  a  Confederate  lieutenant,  and 
dressed  as  a  rebel  officer  he  walked  out  of  prison  while  a 
ball  was  in  progress  in  the  officers'  quarters,  and  follow- 
ing others  until  near  the  picket,  when  he  eluded  the 
guards  and  passed  the  rebel  lines.  Then  he  fell  into  the 
swamps  around  Richmond,  got  lost  and  wandered  for 
thirteen  days,  living  on  persimmons  occasionally  found 
hanging  on  the  trees  in  winter.  But  after  intense  suf- 
fering he  finally  reached  the  Union  lines  at  Yorktown. 
Captain  Scott  escaped  from  a  small-pox  hospital,  the 
loathsomeness  of  the  disease  accounting  for  the  lack  of 
vigilance  observed  among  the  guards. 

At  daybreak  on  Tuesday,  the  i/th,  while  the  com- 
mand was  at  roll-call,  a  rebel  battery  which  had  been 
quietly  placed  in  position  on  the  opposite  bank  of 
the  river  during  the  night,  fired  a  volley  into  the 
camp  of  the  Third  Brigade.  It  was  observed  that 
the  roar  of  Captain  Barnett's  guns  instantly  followed 
the  flash  of  the  enemy's  guns  and  the  rebel  bat- 
tery fired  but  one  volley.  The  prompt  response  of 
our  battery  was  a  striking  illustration  of  the  value 
of  being  prepared  for  instant  battle.  It  was  Cap- 
tain Barnett's  custom  at  morning  roll-call  to  require 
his  men  to  be  in  their  places  at  their  guns  and  ready  for 
action.  This  occasion  found  the  battery  in  position,  the 
men  at  tfieir  respective  places,  with  their  guns  loaded, 
and  their  response  was  so  prompt,  the  fire  so  rapid  and 


November,  1863.  BATTI.F  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  125 

accurate  that  the  rebel  battery  was  overthrown  before  it 
could  fire  a  second  round.  The  rebel  battery  had  fired 
into  the  camp  at  short  range  at  a  time  when  all  the  men 
were  at  roll-call,  yet  the  only  one  killed  or  wounded  by 
the  enemy's  shells  was  Levi  W.  Sanders,  chaplain  of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois.  A  shell  which 
failed  to  explode  passed  in  its  flight  through  the  soldiers' 
quarters,  entered  a  small  cabin  the  men  had  erected  for 
their  spiritual  adviser,  struck  the  wall  and  in  the  re- 
bound killed  that  worthy  officer  while  yet  in  bed.* 

At  this  time  Chattanooga  was  the  scene  of  the  most 
intense  activity.  Following  the  restraint  imposed  by  in- 
vesting lines,  the  menace  of  starvation,  and  the  dread  of 
possible  disaster,  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  displayed 
new  vigor,  while  the  genius  of  General  Grant  directed 
the  concentration  of  forces  sufficient  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  his  full  purpose.  All  the  troops  that  could  be 
spared  from  the  rear  were  ordered  forward,  and  General 
Sherman,  commanding  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  was 
directed  to  move  with  the  Fifteenth  corps — four  divis- 
ions— to  Chattanooga  as  rapidly  as  possible.  To  facili- 
tate the  movement  of  troops  in  the  coming  battle,  and  to 
render  the  crossing  of  the  river  feasible  at  different 
points,  the  construction  of  pontoons  for  two  additional 
bridges  was  ordered.  The  coming  of  troops,  the  arrival 
of  supplies,  and  the  din  of  preparation  for  the  approach- 
ing conflict  would  have  made  the  place  historic  without 
the  great  victory  which  was  soon  to  send  joy  to  the  loyal 
people  throughout  the  land. 

*  We  asked  one  of  the  125th  boys  a  few  days  afterwards  why  the 
chaplain  was  the  only  man  touched,  and  he  said:  "I  suppose  he  was 
the  only  man  in  the  regiment  that  was  prepared  to  die."— The  His- 
tory of  the  52nd  Ohio,  by  the  Rev.  Nixon  B.  Stewart. 


126  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      November.  1863. 

The  topography  of  battlefields  suggests  plans  of  bat- 
tle; dominates  tactical  combinations,  and  is  intimately 
connected  with  the  story  of  the  conflict  waged  upon 
them.  When  the  war  began  Chattanooga  was  a  town  of 
some  two  thousand  inhabitants,  situated  in  a  natural 
amphitheater,  and  surrounded  by  the  magnificence  of 
mountain  view  and  the  beauty  of  the  quiet  valley.  The 
Tennessee  river  flows  in  a  general  southwesterly  course, 
but  just  above  Chattanooga  it  turns  due  west.  Below 
the  town  it  turns  south  until  it  runs  against  the  perpen- 
dicular base  of  the  north  end  of  Lookout  mountain. 
This  turns  the  river  west  for  a  mile  or  more,  when,  with 
an  abrupt  turn,  it  runs  due  north  some  five  miles,  thence 
northwest,  until  it  flows  through  the  narrow  pass  be- 
tween Raccoon  mountain  and  Wallen's  ridge,  when  it 
again  resumes  its  southwesterly  course. 

The  city  is  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Tennessee  and 
at  the  north  end  of  Chattanooga  valley.  This  valley 
varies  in  width  from  two  to  six  miles,  and  is  some  twenty 
miles  in  length  from  northeast  to  southwest.  Immedi- 
ately below  the  main  street,  which  runs  perpendicular  to 
the  river,  Cameron  hill  rises  abruptly  one  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  from  the  river  bank.  From  the  top  of  this  nat- 
ural observatory  an  unobstructed  view  may  be  had  of  the 
accessories,  of  mountain  and  valley,  of  stream  and  plain, 
with  which  nature  furnished  the  stage  whereon  the 
grandest  scene  of  real  war  was  enacted.  Three  miles 
southwest,  Lookout  mountain  rises  twenty-four  hundred 
feet  above  sea  level.  At  its  northern  end  it  rises  per- 
pendicularly one  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  then  ascends 
with  a  gradual  slope  to  the  palisades,  which  are  from 
forty  to  one  hundred  feet  in  height.  These  perpendicu- 


November,  1863.  BATTLE  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  127 

lar  palisades  extend  across  the  north  end,  and  along  its 
east  and  west  sides  some  considerable  distance.  West 
of  Lookout  mountain  is  Lookout  creek,  and  west  of  that 
Raccoon  mountain,  which  extends  north  some  seven 
miles  beyond  the  northern  limit  of  Lookout  mountain. 
Flowing  along  the  eastern  base  of  Lookout  mountain 
for  twenty  miles,  is  Chattanooga  creek,  which  drains 
Chattanooga  valley.  At  the  south  end  of  the  valley  the 
cone-shaped  Pigeon  mountain  stands  like  a  sentinel  on 
duty.  To  the  east  of  the  valley  is  Mission  ridge,  its 
irregular  summit  rising  from  six  to  eight  hundred  feet 
above  the  plain,  and  ending  in  foot  hills  near  the  Tennes- 
see. East  of  the  city  and  midway  between  it  and  Mis- 
sion ridge,  Orchard  Knob  rises  one  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  above  the  general  level  of  the  valley.  Brush  Knob, 
a  similar  elevation,  stands  a  half  mile  toward  the  north- 
east. North  of  the  river  is  Moccasin  Point,  a  range  of 
hills  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  high,  extending  from 
above  Chattanooga,  and  jetting  into  the  bend  in  the 
river  north  of  Point  Lookout.  Beyond  Moccasin  Point 
Wallen's  ridge  rises  thirteen  hundred  feet  above  tide 
water.  On  the  opposite  side  of  Moccasin  Point,  due 
west  of  the  city  and  two  miles  distant,  is  Brown's  ferry. 
The  valley  between  Moccasin  Point  and  Wallen's  ridge 
concealed  the  movements  of  Sherman's  army  as  soon  as 
it  crossed  the  river  at  Brown's  ferry,  and  left  the  enemy 
to  mere  conjecture  as  to  whether  it  would  appear  in  the 
attack  on  Mission  ridge  or  move  on  to  reinforce  Burn- 
side  at  Knoxville. 

Notwithstanding  General  Grant's  energetic  prepara- 
tions for  battle,  which  could  not  have  escaped  the  notice 
of  General  Bragg,  General  Longstreet,  with  a  large  force 


128  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      November,  1863. 

of  the  enemy,  was  detached  and  sent  to  Knoxville  to 
overwhelm  Burnside  and  attempt  to  regain  what  had 
been  lost  in  that  region.  This  movement  against  Knox- 
ville increased  Grant's  eagerness  to  attack  Bragg,  and 
caused  much  anxiety  lest  Knoxville  should  fall  before 
reinforcements  could  be  spared  to  assist  in  the  defense 
of  that  place.  But  General  Sherman  was  delayed  by  bad 
roads,  high  water  and  broken  bridges  until  the  23rd, 
when  he  massed  three  of  his  divisions  behind  the  hills  at 
Caldwell's  ford,  ready  to  cross  the  Tennessee  the  next 
morning. 

The  North  Chickamauga,  a  stream  flowing  into  the 
Tennessee  just  above  the  camps  occupied  by  the  Third 
brigade,  afforded  an  opportunity  to  launch  the  pontoons 
for  bridging  the  river,  while  the  movement  would  be 
screened  by  timber  from  the  enemy's  view.  A  detail 
from  the  Third  brigade,  in  charge  of  Captain  John  Ken- 
nedy, of  Company  F,  of  the  Eighty-fifth,  launched  one 
hundred  and  sixteen  pontoons  in  this  stream  on  the  23rd. 
Captain  Kennedy  had  been  a  boatman  on  the  Illinois 
river  prior  to  the  war,  and  so  expert  was  he  in  his  work 
that  he  launched  as  many  as  three  of  the  boats  in  a  min- 
ute. In  the  evening  a  detail  was  made  from  the  brigade 
of  sufficient  numbers  to  row  the  boats  out  of  the  creek 
into  the  river  and  down  to  the  place  where  the  bridge 
was  to  be  thrown  across.  This  detail  was  made  from 
among  the  men  used  to  boating,  and  was  under  com- 
mand of  Captain  H.  S.  LaTourrette,  of  Company  G,  of 
the  Eighty-fifth,  with  orders  to  be  ready  to  man  the 
boats  at  midnight.  Promptly  at  the  appointed  hour  one 
hundred  and  sixteen  boats,  each  carrying  thirty  well- 
armed  men  in  addition  to  the  rowers,  pulled  out  of  the 


GEORGE   A.  BLANCHARD, 

CAPTAIN  COMPANY  C. 


129 


November,  1863.  BATTLE  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  131 

creek  and  silently  dropped  down  the  river,  hugging  the 
north  bank  until  they  reached  the  point  for  the  intended 
bridge,  when  all  pulled  for  the  other  shore.  This  was 
quickly  reached,  when  the  men  jumped  ashore  and  cap- 
tured the  picket  post  known  to  be  at  this  point.  So 
quickly  and  quietly  was  this  done  that  the  nineteen  men 
constituting  the  post  were  taken  without  firing  a  shot. 
Two  divisions  of  troops  were  quickly  carried  over  in  the 
boats,  when  the  work  of  laying  the  pontoon  bridge  was 
commenced,  and  by  eleven  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the 
24th  troops  were  crossing  on  a  bridge  thirteen  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  in  length.  Ample  preparations  for  forcing 
a  crossing,  in  case  resistance  should  be  offered,  by  plant- 
ing fifty-six  pieces  of  artillery  on  the  hills  north  of  the 
intended  crossing,  had  been  made  during  the  night  be- 
fore. But  Bragg  had  been  suddenly  and  somewhat 
roughly  aroused  from  his  dream  of  fancied  security  on 
the  afternoon  of  the  23rd. 

.Fearful  lest  Bragg  should  retreat,  General  Grant 
ordered  an  attack  on  the  enemy's  advanced  line,  which 
extended  from  Brush  Knob  on  the  north,  around  the 
base  of  Orchard  Knob,  and  for  a  mile  or  more  farther 
south.  Promptly  at  one  o'clock  on  the  23rd  the  divis- 
ions commanded  by  Wood  and  Sheridan  moved  out  of 
their  works  and  formed  on  the  open  plain.  Between 
the  Union  and  rebel  lines  lay  open  fields  without  stump 
or  tree  or  fence,  save  the  thin  belt  of  timber  which  here 
and  there  concealed  the  enemy's  line.  The  Eleventh 
corps,  under  General  Howard,  was  formed  in  solid  col- 
umn as  a  reserve  to  the  attacking  force,  which  moved 
with  eager  step  in  perfect  time.  The  flying  flags  and 
the  sun  flashing  from  ten  thousand  polished  rifles  pre- 


132  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      November,  1863. 

sented  a  spectacle  of  singular  magnificence.  Groups  of 
rebel  officers  viewed  the  scene  from  Bragg's  headquar- 
ters on  Mission  ridge,  while  the  enemy's  pickets,  but  a 
few  hundred  yards  away,  stood  idly  looking  at  what  they 
supposed  to  be  preparations  for  a  grand  review. 

When  the  advance  sounded  the  line  moved  forward 
•with  the  steadiness  and  precision  of  veterans  on  parade. 
Not  a  straggler  nor  a  skulker  could  be  seen  as  all  went 
eagerly  forward.  Soon  the  enemy  realized  it  was  not  a 
review,  but  a  bold  attack.  His  pickets  fell  back  to  the 
main  line  and  their  scattering  shots  were  quickly  fol- 
lowed by  the  roll  of  musketry  and  the  roar  of  cannon. 
The  plain  was  dotted  here  and  there  with  fallen  men  in 
"blue,  and  men  were  seen  with  stretchers  bearing  off  the 
"wounded.  Puffs  of  blue  smoke  mark  for  a  moment  the 
line  of  rebel  works,  a  moment  more  and  a  hearty  cheer  is 
heard,  and  the  works  are  ours  with  200  prisoners. 

A  break  in  the  bridge  at  Brown's  ferry  prevented  the 
division  of  General  Osterhaus,  of  the  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee, from  crossing  the  river  in  time  to  take  part  in 
Sherman's  attack  on  Mission  ridge,  and  it  was  attached 
to  General  Hooker's  command  in  Lookout  valley.  This 
accident  caused  the  Second  division  of  the  Fourteenth 
corps  to  be  assigned  to  Sherman's  command  at  the  last 
moment,  and  we  crossed  the  river  at  one  o'clock  on  the 
24th,  and  the  advance  began.  No  resistance  was  offered 
by  the  enemy  save  that  easily  overcome  by  a  strong  skir- 
mish line,  until  one  of  the  foot  hills  in  which  Mission 
ridge  ends  was  taken.  A  little  later  the  enemy  made  an 
effort  to  retake  it,  but  was  decidedly  repulsed,  when  the 
hill  was  fortified  and  we  rested  on  our  arms  in  line  of 
battle  for  the  night. 


November,  1863.  BATTLE  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  133 

The  day  was  cold,  with  drizzling  rain  at  times,  but  far 
to  the  right  could  be  heard  the  sound  of  battle.  Thick 
clouds  of  mist  enveloped  the  top  of  Lookout  mountain, 
and  at  times  reached  to  its  base.  From  the  veiled  sum- 
mit burst  the  peal  of  thunder  and  the  lightning  flashed 
out,  while  the  soldiers  in  the  valley  anxiously  awaited  the 
result  of  the  conflict  among  the  clouds.  In  the  after- 
noon the  mist  was  blown  away  for  a  few  moments,  when 
the  Union  line  appeared  in  full  view.  The  flash  of  gun 
and  gleam  of  steel  stood  out  distinctly  on  the  dark  back- 
ground formed  by  the  mountain's  rocky  face,  and  re- 
vealed the  right  of  the  line  firmly  fixed  at  Point  Lookout, 
while  the  left  was  sweeping  in  triumph  toward  Chatta- 
nooga. Then  the  brigade  bands  in  the  valley  began  to 
play. 

That  night  came  on  clear  and  cold,  and  the  lines 
were  swept  by  the  eager  north  wind.  Camp  fires  seemed 
indispensable,  but  they  were  a  dangerous  luxury  in  the 
face  of  alert  sharpshooters.  But  the  men  were  elated 
with  another  victory.  The  entire  army  was  now  united 
in  a  continuous  line  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  and 
during  the  night  Bragg  withdrew  his  troops  from  Look- 
out mountain  and  Chattanooga  valley  to  strengthen  his 
lines  on  Mission  ridge.  So  with  snatches  of  sleep, 
achieved  under  much  difficulty,  the  men  were  ready  for 
whatever  might  be  provided  for  them  in  the  morning. 

As  soon  as  it  was  light  enough  to  see  on  the  morning 
of  the  25th  General  Sherman  moved  his  three  divisions 
against  the  main  fortified  line  of  the  enemy,  holding 
General  Davis,  commanding  the  division  to  which  the 
Eighty-fifth  belonged,  as  a  reserve  in  supporting  dis- 
tance of  his  attacking  columns.  The  enemy  was  found 


134  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  I  ILLINOIS.      November,  1863. 

strongly  entrenched,  on  commanding  ground,  in  a  posi- 
tion of  vital  importance  to  the  safety  of  the  rebel  army. 
Bragg  was  now  fully  aroused  to  his  danger,  and  as  this 
point  protected  his  line  of  supplies  and  of  retreat  if  found 
necessary,  he  hurried  reinforcements  to  this  part  of  his 
line.  After  terrific  fighting  Sherman's  center  division 
gained  a  high  crest  within  three  hundred  feet  of  the 
enemy's  entrenchments,  which  it  held  tenaciously 
throughout  the  day  and  from  which  it  made  repeated 
assaults,  but  without  securing  a  lodgment  in  the  rebel 
line.  About  noon  a  brigade  of  the  Eleventh  corps, 
which  connected  Sherman  with  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland, was  sent  in,  but  was  repulsed.  At  two  o'clock 
a  brigade  that  had  worked  its  way  almost  up  to  the  ene- 
my's works,  was  caught  in  the  flank  by  a  rebel  force  and 
rather  roughly  handled.  This  rebel  success  was,  how- 
ever, but  for  the  moment,  when  the  enemy  was  in  turn 
struck  in  the  flank,  his  brigade  broken  and  his  troops 
dispersed.  By  three  o'clock  the  fighting  along  Sher- 
man's front  was  virtually  over,  and  the  rebel  right  stood 
unshaken,  but  his  determined  and  persistent  attack  at  a 
vital  point  had  caused  Bragg  to  weaken  his  lines  farther 
south,  and  thus  rendered  success  easier  for  the  attack  on 
his  center. 

By  this  time  Hooker,  with  three  divisions,  was  form- 
ing his  line  of  battle  across  the  enemy's  left  at  Rossville, 
while  Thomas,  with  four  divisions,  stood  ready  to  strike 
the  center  of  Bragg's  weakened  line.  Between  Orchard 
Knob  and  the  rebel  line  was  a  valley  covered  in  part  by 
timber  and  underbrush.  This  field  was  in  range  of  the 
direct  and  enfilading  fire  of  all  the  rebel  lines,  the  one  at 
the  base,  the  one  half  way  up,  and  the  main  line  at  the 


November,  1863.  BATTLE  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  135 

top  of  Mission  ridge.  The  ridge  in  front  of  Thomas  was 
about  six  hundred  feet  in  height ;  its  sides  furrowed  with 
gullies ;  clotted  over  with  timber,  some  of  which  had  been 
felled,  and  in  places  huge  rocks  cropped  out.  At  the 
summit  a  heavy  line  of  earthworks  protected  fifty  pieces 
of  artillery  which  commanded  the  field,  while  at  a  small 
house  on  top  of  the  ridge  Bragg  had  his  headquarters. 
This  house  was  directly  in  front  of  Orchard  Knob,  and 
from  it  floated  the  rebel  flag. 

At  four  o'clock  six  guns  are  fired  at  regular  intervals 
from  Orchard  Knob,  and  twenty  thousand  men  move 
forward  in  line  of  battle,  exposed  at  every  step  to  a  ter- 
rific artillery  fire.  The  air  over  their  heads  is  dotted  with 
the  white,  round  clouds  formed  by  bursting  shells.  But 
never  faltering,  quickening  the  pace  as  it  goes,  the  blue 
line  moves  on  until  it  dashes  up  to  the  line  of  leveled 
rifles  at  the  base  of  the  ridge.  There  is  a  moment  of 
death  and  terror,  and  the  men  leap  over  the  parapet  and 
into  the  trench,  capturing  the  defenders  to  a  man,  who, 
as  they  stream  to  the  rear,  are  pursued  by  the  iron  hail 
beating  down  from  the  hill  top  on  both  friend  and  foe. 
Sense  of  time  is  lost  in  such  an  hour,  and  seemingly  but 
a  moment  passes  before  the  long  blue  line  begins  the 
perilous  ascent.  Then  the  enemy  redoubled  his  efforts 
and  the  firm  earth  trembled  with  the  incessant  roar  of 
artillery.  At  this  time  artillery  firing  increased  in  rapid- 
ity until  it  reached,  by  the  count  of  a  cool-headed  officer 
at  Grant's  headquarters,  fifty-eight  guns  in  a  single  min- 
ute. And  now  there  comes,  as  the  blue  line  nears  the 
crest,  the  quick,  sharp  rattle  of  musketry,  which  soon 
deepens  into  a  continuous  roll.  This  is  far  more  dread- 
ful to  the  experienced  ear  than  the  loudest  cannonade. 


136  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      November,  1863. 

It  tells  that  the  final  scene  is  about  to  be  enacted;  that 
victory  must  be  quickly  seized  or  a  few  retire  in  the  bit- 
terness of  bloody  defeat.  But  the  line  goes  surging  over 
the  crest  of  Mission  ridge.  Almost  simultaneously  the 
rebel  line  is  carried  in  half  a  dozen  places,  and  the  enemy 
break  in  full  retreat.  Regiments  are  captured  entire, 
and  battery  after  battery  is  taken. 

During  the  afternoon  General  Davis  proposed  to 
General  Sherman  to  take  the  Second  division  and  assault 
the  rebel  works  beyond  the  left  of  Sherman's  line  of  at- 
tack. The  division  was  fresh  and  strong  in  numbers — 
over  seven  thousand  effective  men — and  if  successful  in 
the  proposed  attack  we  would  have  seized  the  road  over 
which  Bragg  retreated  during  the  night.  But  General 
Sherman,  no  doubt  wisely,  declined  the  offer  of  his  enter- 
prising subordinate.  And  so  it  turned  out  that  the  Sec- 
ond division  did  not  become  engaged,  although  shells 
passed  over  and  fell  around  about  us  throughout  the 
entire  day. 

Arrangements  were  promptly  made  for  the  pursuit 
of  the  enemy,  and  the  Second  division  at  head  of  the  col- 
umn moved  about  midnight  across  South  Chickamauga 
creek  and  proceeded  up  the  north  bank  of  that  stream  as 
rapidly  as  possible.  Toward  morning  the  fog  became  so 
dense  that  it  was  found  impossible  to  proceed  without 
great  risk,  and  the  command  was  ordered  to  make  cof- 
fee and  get  their  breakfast.  As  soon  as  the  fog  began 
to  rise  the  troops  were  put  in  motion,  but  the  enemy 
offered  little  resistance  until  the  railroad  at  its  crossing 
of  Chickamauga  creek  was  reached.  Here  the  enemy 
seemed  disposed  to  fight,  but  after  a  brisk  skirmish  he 
was  driven  toward  the  station.  Chickamauga  station 


November,  1863.  BATTLE  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  1ST 

was  now  in  full  view,  presenting  a  couple  of  formidable 
looking  fieldworks,  with  an  open  plain  in  full  view,  over 
which  the  troops  would  have  to  move  in  direct  attack. 
The  battery  opened  but  failed  to  bring  a  reply,  when  the 
skirmishers  of  the  First  brigade  advanced,  and  after  a 
sharp  fight  drove  the  enemy  from  the  little  hamlet.  This 
rapid  advance  compelled  the  enemy  to  abandon  consid- 
erable property  undestroyed. 

In  this  spirited  affair  the  Twenty-first  Kentucky,  of 
the  First  brigade,  learned  through  prisoners  taken  from 
a  Kentucky  regiment  in  the  Confederate  army,  that  it 
was  a  fight  between  Kentucky  loyal  and  Kentucky  rebel 
face  to  face,  and  it  created  intense  enthusiasm  through- 
out the  line.  The  order  to  advance  and  attack  the  field- 
works  in  their  front  was  received  with  cheers,  and 
executed  with  a  dash  that  soon  sent  the  enemy  back  to 
his  main  line,  now  formed  on  a  hill  beyond  the  town.  A 
battery  in  the  road  opened  fire,  but  was  soon  driven  from 
its  position  by  the  fire  of  the  Third  brigade  battery.  In 
the  meantime,  the  entire  division  had  been  deployed, 
and  when  the  advance  began  the  enemy  retired  in  great 
haste,  leaving  two  twenty-four-pounder  siege  pieces  in 
our  hands  and  considerable  commissary,  quartermaster's 
and  ordnance  stores  were  captured  and  saved,  notwith- 
standing the  efforts  of  the  enemy  to  destroy  them.  Thus 
ended  a  gallant  little  fight  with  the  rear  guard  of  Bragg's 
army. 

General  Sherman  arrived  at  the  head  of  the  column 
at  this  time,  and  by  his  direction  the  troops  were  allowed 
a  short  rest,  after  which  the  pursuit  was  renewed  with 
increased  vigor.  The  roads  were  now  strewn  with 
broken  wagons,  and  two  caissons  were  captured.  The 


138  HISTORY  OF  THE  8STH  ILLINOIS.      November,  1863. 

pursuit  grew  in  interest  as  the  prospect  of  overtaking 
the  foe  increased,  and  the  usual  marching  pace  gave  way 
to  the  double  quick.  This  was  kept  up  some  two  miles, 
when  the  enemy  was  found  again  in  position  near  Grays- 
ville,  beyond  some  open  fields.  For  some  distance  the 
troops  had  been  confined  to  a  narrow,  muddy  road  while 
passing  through  a  swamp.  Here  the  enemy  opened  on 
the  column  with  a  two-gun  battery,  but  as  the  eager 
troops  reached  the  open  ground,  regiments  rushed  into 
line,  the  men  fixing  their  bayonets  as  they  ran;  the 
charge  was  sounded,  and  the  rebel  line  was  routed  and 
two  pieces  of  artillery  captured.  This  happened  at  night- 
fall and  the  command  bivouacked  for  the  night.  The 
force  here  encountered  proved  to  be  two  brigades,  com- 
manded by  General  Maney,  who  was  severely  wounded 
in  the  fight. 

The  next  morning  the  pursuit  was  resumed  at  day- 
light, the  Third  brigade  in  advance.  But  about  eight 
o'clock  we  formed  a  junction  with  General  Palmer,  com- 
manding the  Fourteenth  corps,  and  found  that  other 
troops  had  the  right  of  way  on  the  Ringgold  road.  The 
skirmishers  from  the  Third  brigade  had  taken  the  Ring- 
gold  road  and  opened  communications  with  General 
Hooker,  then  engaged  with  the  enemy  just  beyond 
Ringgold.  In  doing  this  they  captured  one  hundred 
and  fifty-two  prisoners.  The  division  remained  at  Park- 
er's Gap  during  the  28th,  awaiting  instructions. 

Fear  for  the  safety  of  General  Burnside  at  Knoxville 
had  a  dominating  influence  over  all  of  General  Grant's 
plans  for  battle  at  Chattanooga,  and  over  his  pursuit  of 
the  defeated  enemy.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  Bragg  had 
been  driven  beyond  Taylor's  ridge,  and  the  left  of  the 


November,  1863.  BATTLE  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  139 

Union  army  interposed  between  Bragg  and  Longstreet, 
General  Grant  arrested  the  pursuit  of  the  enemy  and 
ordered  a  strong  force  to  march  rapidly  to  the  relief  of 
Knoxville. 

On  Sunday  morning,  the  2Qth,  the  Second  division 
moved  with  the  force  under  command  of  General  Sher- 
man for  the  relief  of  Burnside.  This  force  was  without 
camp  or  garrison  equipage,  and  moved  with  a  train  only 
sufficient  for  carrying  ammunition  to  fight  a  battle  which 
was  to  be  expected.  It  marched  rapidly  over  muddy 
roads;  through  winter  rains,  and  was  compelled  to  live 
on  such  scanty  fare  as  the  country  afforded  after  being 
ravaged  by  our  enemies.  The  command  arrived  within 
a  few  miles  of  Knoxville  on  the  evening  of  December 
6th,  when  it  was  discovered  that  Longstreet  was  in  full 
retreat  up  the  Tennessee  valley.  He  had  made  an  at- 
tack, but  wras  repulsed  before  the  relieving  column  came 
within  striking  distance,  and  at  once  the  command 
started  on  its  return  to  Chattanooga. 

The  Second  division  returned  by  way  of  Morgan- 
town,  Madisonville  and  Columbus,  where  the  division 
remained  five  days,  operating  some  mills  in  order  to  sup- 
ply the  men  with  food,  and  in  breaking  up  bands  of  guer- 
rillas and  murderers  infesting  the  vicinity.  Parties  of 
infantry,  mounted  upon  horses  procured  from  farmers, 
were  sent  out  and  gathered  in  many  of  these  scoundrels. 
Resuming  the  march  on  the  1 5th,  by  the  way  of  Charles- 
ton, Cleveland,  and  McDaniel's  Gap,  and  passing 
through  Chattanooga,  the  Eighty-fifth  reached  its  camp 
at  Friar's  Ford  or  North  Chickamauga,  on  Decem- 
ber i  Qth. 

During  the  Knoxville  campaign  it  was  necessary  to 


140  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      November,  1863 

obtain  food  and  forage  from  the  East  Tennessee  farmers, 
a  majority  of  whom  were  loyal,  and  every  effort  was 
made  to  compensate  those  from  whom  supplies  were 
taken.  This  could  only  be  done  by  a  regular  detail  in 
charge  of  an  officer  authorized  to  issue  vouchers,  and 
very  stringent  orders  were  issued  against  individual  for- 
aging. This  led  to  some  amusing  incidents,  one  of 
which  was  told  at  the  expense  of  the  commander  of  the 
Third  brigade.  It  was  said  that  one  morning  Colonel 
McCook  was  riding  some  distance  in  advance  of  the 
command,  when  he  suddenly  encountered  a  soldier 
standing  beside  a  hog  in  its  death  struggle,  holding  in  his 
hand  a  knife  from  which  the  blood  was  still  dripping. 
Amazed  at  this  flagrant  violation  of  orders,  the  colonel 
thundered  out,  "Who  killed  that  hog?"  Whereupon 
the  soldier  politely  saluted  the  colonel,  and  said :  "Col- 
onel, I  am  a  butcher  by  thrade  and  I  offer  it  as  me  profes- 
sional opinion  that  this  hog  died  a  natural  death."  Pat's 
ready  wit  caused  the  colonel  to  burst  out  laughing  and 
saved  the  man  from  arrest  and  punishment. 

The  writer  remembers  an  exhibition  of  loyalty  on  the 
part  of  an  East  Tennessee  farmer,  which,  under  the  dis- 
tressing circumstances,  appeared  heroic.  On  a  very  cold 
night  our  brigade  camped  on  a  farm  from  which  all  the 
fence  rails  were  taken  and  consumed  during  the  night. 
As  we  resumed  the  march  about  sunrise  the  next  morn- 
ing we  saw  the  owner  of  the  farm,  an  old  white-haired 
man,  with  maul  and  wedge,  busy  splitting  rails  at  the 
roadside.  And  while  the  column  passed  by  he  stood 
with  uncovered  head,  his  face  radiant  with  loyal  enthusi- 
asm, cheering  the  flag  of  the  Union. 

In  this  campaign  the  men  exhibited  the  utmost  forti- 


November,  1863.  BATTLE  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  141 

tucle  under  ever-increasing  difficulties.  The  weather 
was  cold  and  stormy;  the  men  without  tents  or  over- 
coats; a  large  number  without  blankets,  and  many  were 
barefoot.  On  frosty  mornings  the  men  could  be 
tracked  by  the  blood  from  their  bleeding,  shoeless  feet, 
and  in  the  entire  campaign  but  six  days'  rations  were 
issued.  The  distance  marched — counting  both  ways — 
was  two  hundred  and  forty  miles;  thoroughly  testing 
their  endurance  and  their  discipline.  Their  soldierly 
conduct  greatly  pleased  General  Sherman,  and  in  a  letter 
written  to  General  Davis,  he  said :  * 

"Your  division  led  in  the  pursuit  of  Bragg's  army  on 
the  route  designated  for  my  command,  and  when  Gen- 
eral Grant  called  on  us  so  unexpectedly  and  without  due 
preparation  to  march  to  the  relief  of  Knoxville,  you  and 
your  officers  devoted  yourselves  to  the  work  like  soldiers 
and  patriots,  marching  through  cold  and  mud  without 
a  murmur,  trusting  to  accident  for  shelter  and  subsist- 
ence. During  the  whole  march,  wherever  I  encountered 
your  command,  I  found  its  officers  at  their  proper  places 
and  the  men  in  admirable  order.  This  is  the  true  test, 
and  I  pronounce  your  division  one  of  the  best  ordered  in 
the  service.  Be  kind  enough  to  say  to  General  Morgan, 
General  Beatty,  and  Colonel  McCook,  your  brigade 
commanders,  that  I  have  publicly  and  privately  com- 
mended their  brigades." 

And  in  his  official  report,**  General  Sherman  thus 
compliments  the  division  and  its  commander:  "Gen- 
eral Davis  handled  his  division  with  artistic  skill,  more 
especially  at  the  moment  we  encountered  the  enemy's 

*  Rebellion  Records,  Serial  No.  56,  page  439. 
**  Sherman's  Memoirs,  Volume  I,  page  384. 


142  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      November,  1863. 

rear  guard  near  Graysville  at  nightfall.  I  must  award 
this  division  the  credit  of  the  best  order  during  our 
movement  through  East  Tennessee,  when  long  marches 
and  the  necessity  of  foraging  to  the  right  and  left  gave 
reason  for  disordered  ranks." 

The  battles  around  Chattanooga  were  fought  on 
three  successive  days,  but  as  all  were  parts  of  one  com- 
prehensive plan — directed  by  one  master  mind — they 
appear  in  history,  and  rightly  so,  as  the  battle  of  Chatta- 
nooga. It  was  the  most  picturesque  battle  of  the  war, 
and  the  storming  of  Mission  ridge  was  one  of  the  marvels 
in  military  history.  And  when  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
troops  bore  them  up  the  steeps,  and  they  surged  over  the 
rebel  works  at  the  crest,  the  hold  of  the  Union  army  was 
firmly  fixed  on  the  very  vitals  of  the  South. 

General  Grant  had  sixty  thousand  men  in  action,  and 
General  Bragg  probably  liad  forty  thousand,  but  the  dis- 
parity in  numbers  was  more  than  made  good  by  the 
almost  impregnable  position  occupied  by  the  insurgent 
army.  The  losses  of  the  Union  army  were  757  killed, 
4,529  wounded,  and  330  missing,  making  a  total  of 
5,616.  Bragg's  losses  in  killed  and  wounded  are  not 
known,  his  official  report  being  rendered  untrustworthy 
by  the  fact  that  his  total  loss  is  reported  at  much  less  than 
the  number  of  prisoners  captured  by  the  Union  army. 
He  lost  by  capture  6,142  men,  42  cannon,  69  gun  car- 
riages, and  7,000  stands  of  small  arms.  His  loss  in  ma- 
terial was  immense,  part  of  which  he  destroyed  in  his 
precipitate  fligfit,  but  much  was  left  uninjured  and  fell 
into  loyal  hands. 

The  second  division,  although  in  close  support  of  the 
attacking  column,  did  not  become  actively  engaged  at 


December,  1863.  BATTLE  OF  CHATTANOOGA.  143 

Mission  ridge.  Yet  shot  and  shell  passed  over  and  fell 
all  around  us.  The  official  reports  include  the  Knox- 
ville  campaign,  and  the  losses  are  given  as  41  in  the  divis- 
ion, 1 1  of  which  are  credited  to  the  Third  brigade.  The 
losses  in  the  Eighty-fifth  were : 

WOUNDED— Levi  Clifton,  of  Company  F,  and  Charles  R.  Bran- 
son, of  Company  H. 

Charles  W.  Pierce,  first  lieutenant  of  Company  B, 
was  transferred  to  the  invalid  corps  on  November  2nd, 
and  First  Sergeant  Albert  D.  Cadwallader  was  promoted 
to  be  first  lieutenant.  Captain  Charles  W.  Houghton, 
of  Company  D,  resigned  on  December  27th,  and  First 
Lieutenant  Charles  H.  Chatfield  was  promoted  to  suc- 
ceed him,  First  Sergeant  Samuel  Young  being  promoted 
first  lieutenant. 

On  November  2/th  John  W.  Booth,  of  Company  A, 
died  in  the  field  hospital,  his  being  the  only  death  in  the 
regiment  in  the  two  months  of  which  this  chapter  treats. 

On  Saturday,  the  26th,  the  brigade  abandoned  its 
comfortable  camp  at  North  Chickamauga,  and  moved 
through  Chattanooga  to  a  place  beyond  Mission  ridge, 
and  camped  at  McAfee's  Church.  As  the  men  were  still 
without  tents,  and  although  the  next  day  was  Sunday, 
they  began  as  soon  as  it  was  light  to  construct  quarters. 
It  was  a  rainy  day,  but  the  work  went  merrily  on,  and  it 
was  remarkable  how  soon  the  small  pine  trees  were  con- 
verted into  very  comfortable  cabins.  It  was  well  that  no 
time  was  lost,  for  the  new  year  came  in  with  snow  and 
extreme  cold. 


144  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          January,  18M. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


So  far  as  the  military  situation  is  concerned,  the 
Union  victories  gained  at  Gettysburg,  Vicksburg,  and 
Chattanooga  decided  the  fate  of  the  Confederacy,  and 
there  the  struggle  should  have  ended.  In  most  wars 
the  side  on  whose  soil  the  battles  were  fought  has  been 
the  losing  side.  The  belligerent  that  can  not  prevent  his 
own  territory  from  becoming  the  seat  of  war  must  ulti- 
mately surrender.  This  is  an  important  lesson  to  bear 
in  mind  when  it  becomes  necessary  to  determine  the 
great  moral  question  of  responsibility  of  continuing  a 
hopeless  contest. 

The  second  attempt  at  invading  the  North  ended  in 
disaster  at  Gettysburg,  and  Lee  returned  to  Virginia  and 
to  the  defense  of  the  rebel  capital,  after  losing  at  least 
forty  per  cent  of  his  army.  On  the  next  day  Vicksburg 
fell ;  the  army  defending  it  became  prisoners  of  war ;  the 
Mississippi  river  was  opened,  and  the  Confederacy  was 
cut  in  two.  The  capture  of  Chattanooga,  the  martial 
throne  of  strategy  far  and  near,  and  the  objective  of  the 
Federal  army  for  almost  two  years,  was  recognized  by 
the  Southern  leaders  and  people  as  a  direct  menace  to 
the  existence  of  the  rebellion.  And  General  Lee  wrote 
the  rebel  president,  "That  upon  the  defense  of  the  coun- 
try now  threatened  by  General  Grant  depends  the  safety 
of  the  points  now  held  by  us  on  the  Atlantic." 

The  Confederate  army  felt  its  defeat  at  Chattanooga 
most  keenly,  and  to  General  Bragg  it  came  with  crushing 
force.  In  his  official  report,  after  acknowledging  the 


January,  1864.     PREPARING  FOR  A  NEW  CAMPAIGN.  145 

total  defeat  and  panic  of  his  army,  in  language  which 
showed  his  surprise,  he  said :  "The  position  ought  to 
have  been  held  by  a  skirmish  line  against  any  assaulting 
column."  This  statement  no  doubt  expressed  his  own 
opinion  of  the  strength  of  the  position,  but  it  was  by  no 
means  true.  No  doubt  his  men  had  been  somewhat 
overawed  by  the  magnitude  of  General  Grant's  prepara- 
tions, and  the  successes  of  the  previous  days ;  but  the  loss 
of  more  than  twenty  per  cent  in  the  two  central  divisions 
of  the  storming  column,  in  a  contest  of  less  than  an  hour, 
proves  that  they  did  not  yield  without  a  struggle.  Their 
retreat  was  not  caused  so  much  by  fear  as  by  a  convic- 
tion that  resistance  was  useless.  It  is  said  that  while 
Bragg  was  riding  among  his  men,  he  vainly  tried  to  rally 
them  by  shouting,  "Here's  your  commander!"  They 
answered  in  derision,  "Here's  your  mule !" 

Soon  after  reaching  Dalton  and  learning  that  the 
pursuit  had  been  discontinued,  Bragg  appears  to  have 
realized  that  he  had  lost  the  confidence  of  his  troops,  and 
he  asked  to  be  relieved  and  that  a  new  commander  be 
assigned  to  the  rebel  army.  His  request  was  granted  so 
far  as  his  relief  was  concerned,  and  General  William  J. 
Hardee  was  assigned  to  temporary  command.  As  a  per- 
manent assignment  the  position  was  not  sought,  and 
among  others  General  Lee  declined  the  honor  of  being 
thrust  forward,  to  meet  and  check  the  triumphant  career 

of  General  Grant.* 

Richmond,  December  5th,  1863. 
General  R.  B.  Lee,  Orange  Court  House,  Va. 

Could  you  consistently  go  to  Dalton,  as  heretofore  explained? 

JEFFERSON  DAVIS. 

Two  days  later  General  Lee  wrote  the  following  re- 
*  Rebellion  Records,  Serial  No.  56,  page  785. 


146  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          January,  186*. 

markable  letter  in  response  to  the  request  of  the  rebel 

president :  ** 

Headquarters  Army  of  Northern  Virginia, 

Rapidan,  December  7th,  1863. 
His   Excellency   Jefferson   Davis,    President   Confederate    States, 

Richmond: 

Mr.  President — I  have  had  the  honor  to  receive  your  dispatch, 
inquiring  whether  I  could  go  to  Dalton.  I  can  if  desired,  but  of 
the  expediency  of  the  measure  you  can  judge  better  than  I  can. 
Unless  it  is  intended  that  I  should  take  permanent  command,  I 
can  see  no  good  that  will  result,  even  if  in  that  event  any  could 
be  accomplished.  I  also  fear  that  I  would  not  receive  cordial 
co-operation,  and  I  think  it  necessary  if  I  am  withdrawn  from 
here  that  a  commander  for  this  army  be  sent  to  it.  General  Ewell's 
condition,  I  fear,  is  too  feeble  to  undergo  the  fatigue  and  labor 
incident  to  the  position.  I  hope  your  excellency  will  not  suppose 
that  I  am  offering  any  obstacles  to  any  measure  you  may  think 
necessary.  I  only  seek  to  give  you  the  opportunity  to  form  your 
opinion  after  a  full  consideration  of  the  subject.  I  have  not  that 
confidence  either  in  my  strength  or  ability  as  would  lead  me  of  my 
own  option  to  undertake  the  command  in  question. 

I  am,  with  great  respect,  your  obedient  servant, 

R.  E.  LEE,  General. 

The  camp  at  McAffee's  church  was  situated  at  the 
northern  limits  of  the  battlefield  of  Chickamauga,  and 
distant  some  six  miles  from  Chattanooga.  The  line 
between  the  states  of  Tennessee  and  Georgia  ran  through 
the  division  camps,  but  state  lines  had  lost  much  of  their 
former  importance.  The  dense  forest  surrounding  the 
camp  had  formerly  been  the  refuge  for  the  thieves,  mur- 
derers and  outlaws  of  the  two  states.  An  old  resident 
said  that  he  had  seen  hundreds  of  these  scoundrels  en- 
camped around  the  spring  from  which  we  obtained  our 
water  supply.  When  an  officer  of  Tennessee  came  with 
a  writ  to  arrest  them,  they  would  step  a  few  yards  int.o  the 
state  of  Georgia  and  laugh  him  to  scorn.  So  when 
Georgia  sought  to  lay  her  official  hand  on  an  offending 
citizen  of  that  state,  he  would  walk  over  into  Tennessee 


Rebellion  Records,  Serial  No.  56,  page  792. 


HKNRY  s.  LATOTTRRKTTE, 

CAPTAIN  COMPANY    G. 


147 


January,  1864.    PREPARING  FOR  A  NEW  CAMPAIGN.  149 

and  argue  the  case  across  the  line.  It  was  indeed  an 
ideal  spot  for  criminals.  Requisitions  from  the  gover- 
nors of  Georgia  and  Tennessee  could  of  course  be 
obtained,  but  this  would  take  time,  and  in  the  meantime 
the  culprit  could  walk  leisurely  into  Alabama  or  North 
Carolina,  neither  of  which  was  far  away.  For  years  the 
presence  of  these  desperadoes  in  large  numbers  had  kept 
that  locality  from  being  settled  by  good  men,  and  conse- 
quently there  were  thousands  of  acres  in  which  there  had 
not  been  a  field  cleared  or  a  tree  felled. 

The  winter  was  unusually  severe,  both  North  and 
South ;  but  we  had  abundance  of  wood  close  at  hand,  and 
the  prospect  seeming  to  promise  a  stay  more  or  less 
peaceful  and  extended,  the  men  .proceeded  with  much 
labor  and  ingenuity  to  make,  their  stay  comfortable. 
Among  the  most  enterprising  and'luxurious,  cabins  were 
built  and  covered  with  their  own  make  of  clapboards.  A 
blanket  over  the  doorway  excluded  the  wintry  blasts, 
while  a  mud  fireplace  with  a  mud  and  stick  chimney  gave 
the  single  room  a  somewhat  cheery  aspect.  Yet  on  cold 
nights  the  men  had  to  get  out  of  their  bunks  and  warm 
by  the  fire  between  their  snatches  of  sleep. 

Toward  the  end  of  January  the  weather  became  mild 
and  pleasant,  and  on  the  26th  the  Third  brigade  took 
part  with  other  commands  in  a  reconnaissance  to  Tunnel 
Hill,  returning  on  the  28th  without  loss  or  adventure. 
Our  old  enemy  was  known  to  be  at  Dalton,  one  of  the 
oldest  towns  in  Georgia,  some  thirty  miles  south  of  Chat- 
tanooga. And  the  fact  that  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston, 
probably  the  most  skillful  army  commander  in  the  Con- 
federate service,  had  been  selected  to  lead  the  rebel  army 

in  the  coming  campaign  was  due  notice  to  all  concerned 
10 


150  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.       February,  ig&t. 

that  soon  or  late  we  must  be  prepared  for  an  ener- 
getic renewal  of  the  contest.  But  he  required  time  in 
which  to  organize  his  army,  and  both  men  and  material 
must  be  had  to  replace  the  losses  sustained  under  Bragg 
at  Chattanooga  before  he  could  become  a  source  of  much 
apprehension.  So  we  remained  quietly  in  camp  for 
almost  a  month,  but  with  strong  outposts  thrown  out 
well  to  the  front.  On  the  tenth  of  February  the  Third 
brigade  relieved  the  Second  brigade  at  Chickamauga 
Station,  where  it  remained  on  outpost  duty  until  ordered 
to  join  the  division  at  Ringgold,  where  we  arrived  on  the 
evening  of  the  23rd.  General  Grant  had  ordered  Gen- 
eral Thomas  to  take  Dalton  if  possible,  and  at  Ringgold 
we  found  all  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  available  at 
the  time  for  the  undertaking. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  24th  the  Third  brigade 
pushed  on  through  Thoroughfare  Gap,  and  soon  after 
the  skirmishers  found  the  enemy  at  Tunnell  Hill.  The 
enemy  was  driven  until  near  sunset,  when  we  closed 
down  on  his  position  in  Buzzard  Roost,  a  gap  in  Rocky 
Face  ridge.  Mill  creek  runs  through  this  gap,  as  does 
the  railroad  from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta.  At  this  time 
the  First  brigade  was  moving  on  the  left  of  the  railroad, 
the  Third  brigade  on  the  right,  and  as  the  Eighty-fifth 
came  into  line,  the  enemy  opened  with  a  battery  of  Par- 
rot guns  from  a  position  until  then  concealed  from  view. 
One  of  the  shells  struck  the  railroad  bed  without  burst- 
ing and  came  bounding  toward  the  regiment.  Its  motion 
was  so  slow  that  we  could  see  it  whirling  end  over  end, 
and  apparently  going  to  pass  harmlessly  by  the  column. 
But  suddenly  it  changed  direction  and  struck  Sergeant 
Marion  Horton,  of  Company  H.  wounding  him  severely, 


February,  1864.  PREPARING  FOR  A  NEW  CAMPAIGN.  151 

The  enemy  was  driven  from  a  range  of  mound  shaped 
hills,  through  which  both  wagon  and  railroad  mean- 
dered, and  whicfi.  intervened  between  us  and  the  enemy's 
main  line  in  the  gap.  From  these  hills  the  position  of 
the  enemy  could  be  easily  reconnoitered,  and  from  the 
fire  of  his  artillery  two  strongly  posted  field  batteries  were 
discovered.  By  this  time  it  was  almost  dark,  and  strong 
pickets  were  thrown  out  well  to  the  front.  The  com- 
mand was  located  so  as  to  be  protected  from  the  enemy's 
artillery  and  at  the  same  time  be  able  to  resist  an  attack, 
and  the  troops  rested  on  their  arms  for  the  night. 

Early  the  next  morning  sharp  skirmishing  began, 
and  the  line  of  battle  was  advanced  to  the  crest  of  the 
hills  secured  the  evening  before.  The  Eighty-fifth  and 
the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois  in  the  front  line,  with  the  other 
regiments  of  the  brigade  in  reserve.  Buzzard  Roost  is  a 
rocky  gorge  between  two  mountains,  in  which  there  are 
many  sharp  spurs,  abrupt  ravines,  steep  hills  and  isolated 
knolls,  forming  an  almost  impregnable  position.  Dur- 
ing the  morning  thick  smoke  and  haze  obscured  the 
sight,  making  it  difficult  to  see  objects  even  at  a  short 
distance ;  but  the  skirmishers  pressed  on  with  vigor  until 
their  fire  commanded  the  enemy's  rifle  pits.  About  noon 
the  smoke  was  blown  away,  when  the  skirmish  line  was 
reinforced  and  the  firing  became  very  brisk.  In  our 
front  was  a  cleared  field  some  two  hundred  and  fifty 
yards  in  width  and  beyond  it  a  ravine  ran  from  right  to 
left.  Beyond  this  depression  was  heavy  timber,  which 
concealed  the  enemy's  line.  At  three  o'clock  the  ad- 
vance was  sounded  and  the  First  brigade  on  the  left,  and 
the  Third  brigade  on  the  right  of  the  railroad,  moved  for- 
ward. This  brought  a  prompt  response  from  the  ene- 


152  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.       February,  1864. 

my's  artillery  and  infantry.  Three  batteries  opened  on 
our  advancing  lines,  with  great  fierceness  from  right,  left 
and  front,  making  it  exceedingly  hot  until  the  ravine  was 
reached.  There  the  line  was  halted,  and  being  fairly  well 
covered  from  the  artillery  fire  we  watched  a  well-matched 
contest  of  sharp-shooting  by  the  skirmish  lines  until 
dark. 

Our  advance  had  been  rapid,  and  brought  the  line  so 
close  to  the  rebel  batteries  that  they  served  us  with  grape 
shot,  which  the  writer  remembers  made  a  whirring  noise 
in  its  flight  very  much  like  that  made  by  a  flock  of  rising- 
birds.  During  the  day  the  regiment  lost  three  men 
killed  and  eleven  wounded.  After  dark  the  Third  bri- 
gade was  relieved  by  a  brigade  of  the  First  division,  and 
we  retired  behind  the  hills  where  we  could  cook  and  eat 
in  safety.  The  fact  had  been  demonstrated  that  the 
enemy's  position  was  too  strong  to  be  carried  by  direct 
assault,  and  the  next  day,  while  sharp  skirmishing  was 
maintained  along  our  front,  his  flanks  were  felt  by  other 
troops.  But  our  army  was  not  then  strong  enough  in 
numbers  to  render  a  turning  movement  possible,  and 
during  the  night  of  the  26th  we  returned  to  Ringgold. 
The  next  day  the  division  returned  to  its  camp  at  Mc- 
Affee's  church. 

Tjie  losses  in  the  Third  brigade  fell  upon  the  Eighty- 
fifth  and  the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois,  and  were  14  in  the 
former  and  8  in  the  latter.  The  killed  and  wounded  in 
the  Eighty-fifth  were  as  follows : 

KILLED — Joseph  Dunn,  of  Company  C;  Joseph  Forner,  of  Com- 
pany F;  Robert  C.  Garrison,  of  Company  K. 

WOUNDED — Lieutenant  A.  D.  Cadwallader,  of  Company  B;  Clin- 
ton Black,  of  Company  D;  James  Carey,  of  Company  F;  John 
Thompson,  of  Company  G;  James  T.  Toler  and  Marion  Horton, 


March,  186*.      PREPARING  FOR  A  NEW  CAMPAIGN.  153 

of  Company  H;    Orpheus  Ames,  Isaac    Fountain,  Josiah  Mc- 
Knight,  Zimri  Thomas,  and  Jas.  M.  Whi'ttaker,  of  Company  K. 

The  events  of  the  past  year,  when  viewed  from  either 
a  military  or  political  standpoint,  were  full  of  encourage- 
ment to  the  defenders  of  the  Union.  The  victories  of 
the  Federal  armies  and  the  support  of  war  measures  by 
the  vote  of  the  loyal  people,  alike  indicated  that  the  crisis 
in  the  nation's  destiny  had  passed.  That  the  strength  of 
the  insurrection  had  culminated,  was  evidenced  by  the 
ever-increasing  desertions  from  the  rebel  army.  This 
had  been  greatly  stimulated  by  President  Lincoln's  offer 
of  pardon  to  all  who  gave  up  and  came  in,  below  the 
rank  of  brigadier  general.  The  reports  of  the  provost 
marshal-general  show  that  the  number  of  deserters  com- 
ing into  the  lines  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  for  the 
six  months  ending  on  May  ist,  1864,  aggregated  3,731, 
or  an  average  of  over  600  for  each  month. 

With  the  beginning  of  the  new  year  the  maintenance 
of  the  full  strength  of  the  Federal  armies  became  the 
great  problem.  The  term  of  enlistment  of  very  many 
regiments  would  expire  early  in  the  year.  Their  retire- 
ment in  the  midst  of  active  operations  would  endanger 
the  success  of  all  plans  of  aggression  which  might  be 
formed.  In  fact,  the  hope  of  the  speedy  suppression  of 
the  revolt,  turned  upon  the  retention  of  these  hardy, 
well-seasoned  troops,  and  yet  there  was  no  law  to  hold 
them.  Fortunately  for  the  country  the  patriotism  of 
these  citizen-soldiers  was  equal  to  the  emergency,  and 
their  voluntary  re-enlistment  gave  assurance  of  adequate 
armies  for  the  coming  campaign.  Many  of  them  had 
been  engaged  in  the  winter  campaign  for  the  relief  of 
Knoxville,  in  which  they  had  endured  hardships  and  pri- 


154  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  1864. 

vations  such  as  had  only  been  equalled  at  Valley  Forge. 
And  no  event  throughout  the  war  gave  more  eloquent 
testimony  to  the  devotion  and  courage  of  the  volunteer 
soldier. 

Upon  re-enlistment  these  veterans  were  given  a 
thirty-days'  furlough  to  visit  their  homes,  and  for  the 
time  being  the  army  at  Chattanooga  was  so  reduced  in 
numbers  that  the  enemy  at  Dalton  had  tfie  greater  force. 
In  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  seventy  regiments  of 
infantry,  twelve  of  cavalry,  thirteen  batteries,  and  thirty- 
one  detachments  re-enlisted  as  "veteran  volunteers." 
When  these  veteran  organizations  returned  to  the  front 
at  the  expiration  of  their  furloughs,  they  brought  with 
them  some  five  thousand  recruits,  mostly  young 
men.  These  recruits  arrived — clean-shaved,  hair  close- 
cropped,  freshly  vaccinated,  and  newly  baptised,  ready 
for  any  kind  of  carnage,  from  squirrel  hunting  to  man- 
slaughter in  the  first  degree,  but  their  enormous  appe- 
tites threatened  the  peace  and  quiet  of  the  camp. 

On  Saturday,  the  3rd,  Wheeler's  rebel  cavalry  made 
an  attack  on  an  outpost  at  Leet's  tanyard,  and  dispersed 
a  regiment  of  mounted  infantry  stationed  at  that  point. 
As  a  result  of  this  raid  the  Third  brigade  was  ordered  to 
Lee  and  Gordon's  mills,  where  we  went  into  camp  that 
evening  on  ground  held  by  the  right  of  our  army 
throughout  the  first  day's  battle  at  Chickamauga.  The 
next  day  many  of  the  men  went  out  to  Leet's  tanyard 
and  spent  some  time  in  looking  over  the  remains  of  the 
mounted  infantry  camp,  and  as  they  wandered  among 
the  ruins  they  wondered  how  the  "acccident"  happened. 

The  Eighty-fifth  had  been  without  tents  since  leav- 
ing Nashville,  but  here  the  men  were  supplied  with 


March,  1864.       PREPARING  FOR  A  NEW  CAMPAIGN.  155 

shelter  tents,  as  they  were  termed  in  general  orders,  or, 
as  they  were  always  spoken  of  by  the  men,  the  "dog 
tents"  or  "pup  tents."  This  was  another  step  in  the 
process  of  reducing  the  wagon  train  by  taking  the  bur- 
den from  the  animal  and  placing  it  on  the  man,  and  per- 
haps these  tents  should  be  described  at  this  point.  To 
each  man  was  given  a  piece  of  white  cotton  cloth,  five 
feet  six  inches  square.  The  edges  were  made  double  by 
a  strip  three  inches  wide  being  sewed  across  them.  At 
two  of  the  corners  a  loop  of  rope  was  fastened  so  that 
stakes  might  be  driven  through  them  into  the  ground. 
At  the  opposite  edge  there  was  a  row  of  buttons  and 
button  holes.  When  camp  was  reached  and  tents  were 
to  be  pitched  there  was  no  waiting  for  the  wagons  to 
come  up  before  the  men  could  provide  shelter.  Two 
men  who  had  cast  their  fortunes  together  would  drive 
two  stakes  four  and  one-half  feet  in  length  into  the 
ground,  lay  a  pole  six  feet  long  across  the  top  of  the 
stakes,  button  their  pieces  of  tent  together,  place  it  over 
the  pole,  and  fasten  the  lower  corners  to  the  ground  with 
tent  pins.  As  there  was  no  protection  at  the  ends,  they 
were  unusually  well  ventilated,  and  in  case  of  storm  they 
could  be  readily  shifted  so  that  the  rain  would  not  blow 
in.  But  for  some  reason  or  prejudice  shelter  tents  never* 
became  very  popular  in  the  Eighty-fifth. 

The  22nd  is  memorable  for  a  very  severe  snow  storm 
which  prevailed  throughout  the  night  and  covered  the 
ground  to  a  depth  of  ten  inches.  Commands  that  hap- 
pened to  be  on  the  move  at  that  time  suffered  greatly, 
but  fortunately  the  Eighty-fifth  was  in  camp  with  an 
abundance  of  fuel  near  at  hand.  This  storm  tended 
somewhat  to  reconcile  the  men  to  their  shelter  tents. 


156  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  ww. 

The  snow  being  in  good  packing  condition  suggested 
the  idea  that  a  snow  ball  battle  would  be  good  sport,  and 
on  the  next  day  a  very  vigorous  fight,  with  snow  balls 
for  weapons,  took  place  between  different  regiments  in 
the  brigade.  In  the  evening  the  weather  turned  very 
cold,  and  the  freezing  snow  quickly  formed  lumps  of  ice. 
Not  content  with  the  sport  had  during  the  day,  snow 
balling  was  resumed  at  night,  and  the  engagement  was 
fast  becoming  both  general  and  serious,  when  the  dam- 
aged heads  that  had  come  in  contact  with  lumps  of  ice 
led  the  officers  to  stop  the  sanguinary  sport. 

On  the  3  ist  the  Second  division  was  reviewed  by 
General  Thomas,  the  Third  brigade  joining  the  First 
and  Second  for  that  purpose,  at  a  point  about  half  way 
between  their  camps  at  McAffee's  church  and  Lee  and 
Gordon's  mills. 

The  period  of  which  this  chapter  treats  was  one  of 
active  preparation,  in  which  General  Grant's  genius  for 
organization,  concentration  and  the  supply  of  his  armies 
in  the  field  was  strikingly  manifest.  Forces  were  con- 
centrated around  Chattanooga  and  organized  and 
equipped  for  an  extended  campaign  into  the  heart  of 
the  Confederacy.  But  General  Grant  was  not  allowed 
to  direct  in  person  the  campaign  he  had  planned  for  the 
Army  of  the  West.  Before  spring  opened  he  was  ap- 
pointed lieutenant  general,  and  was  placed  in  command 
of  all  the  armies  of  the  United  States.  And  true  to  his 
soldierly  instincts,  Grant  at  once  started  east  to  direct  in 
person  the  Armies  of  the  Potomac  and  the  James  against 
the  largest  and  best  equipped  of  all  the  Confederate 
armies.  The  Army  of  the  Potomac  had  been  most  un- 


April,  1864.        PREPARING  FOR  A  NEW  CAMPAIGN.  157 

fortunate  in  its  commanders,  and  up  to  this  time  its  only 
important  victories  were  those  won  at  Antietam  and 
Gettysburg.  After  Gettysburg  it  became  so  quiescent 
that  Longstreet  with  20,000  men  slipped  away  from  its 
front  and  was  fighting  at  Chickamauga  before  the  com- 
mander of  that  army  learned  of  his  departure.  It  had 
now  been  dormant  for  more  than  nine  months,  permit- 
ting Longstreet  and  his  troops  to  remain  in  East  Ten- 
nessee throughout  the  winter,  living  off  the  loyal  people 
of  that  region  until  time  to  rejoin  Lee  at  Richmond  for 
the  spring  campaign.  Perhaps  one  of  the  most  amazing 
facts  in  the  history  of  the  war  is  that  this  army,  eager  to 
be  led  against  the  foe  which  it  greatly  outnumbered, 
with  a  secure  base  on  tide  water,  should  be  held  in  check 
so  long  by  the  incompetence  of  its  commander. 

In  accordance  with  Grant's  desire,  the  President  as- 
signed General  Sherman  to  the  command  of  the  military 
division  of  the  Mississippi,  left  vacant  by  his  promotion. 
The  sentiment  of  both  the  country  and  the  army  ap- 
proved of  General  Grant's  choice  of  his  successor,  and 
from  the  day  of  his  assignment  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
the  confidence  of  the  army  in  General  Sherman  never 
wavered,  but  grew  in  strength  day  by  day. 

When  on  the  march  in  the  early  days  of  the  war  the 
men  were  loaded  down  with  well-filled  knapsacks,  over- 
coats and  blankets,  in  addition  to  their  arms  and  accou- 
trements. Gradually  the  contents  of  the  knapsack  were 
reduced,  and  finally  it  and  the  overcoat  were  thrown 
away.  The  men  found  that  a  wool  blanket  and  a  rubber 
poncho,  which  could  be  rolled  up  and  thrown  in  a  coil 
over  the  shoulder,  the  two  ends  tied  on  the  opposite  side, 
answered  their  necessities  much  better  than  the  clumsy 


158  HISTORY  OP  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  April,  1864. 

gear  furnished  them  at  the  outset.  So,  too,  in  the  begin- 
ning each  company  was  provided  with  a  wagon  drawn  by 
six  mules,  and  three  such  wagons  and  teams  were 
allowed  for  regimental  headquarters.  But  so  many 
mules  died  from  starvation  during  that  period  of  hunger 
and  raggedness  which  covered  the  siege  of  Chattanooga 
that  as  a  matter  of  necessity  the  campaign  in  East  Ten- 
nessee was  made  with  a  very  limited  wagon  train.  And 
what  was  looked  upon  as  a  doubtful  experiment  at  the 
beginning  was  regarded  at  the  successful  conclusion  of 
that  campaign  as  a  demonstration  that  the  wagon  train 
might  be  safely  and  permanently  reduced. 

Accordingly,  along  the  lines  of  previous  experience,. 
Genera]  Sherman  continued  the  cutting  down  process 
until  but  one  wagon  was  allowed  to  a  regiment,  and  that 
was  to  carry  ammunition  and  the  regimental  records 
only.  Attached  to  each  army  corps  of  about  twenty 
thousand  men  was  an  ammunition  and  provision  train 
which  was  limited  to  five  hundred  wagons.  Man's  en- 
durance surpasses  that  of  the  beast,  and  while  the  num- 
ber of  animals  was  reduced  and  their  burdens  decreased, 
additional  loads  were  put  upon  the  troops.  Each  man 
was  required  to  carry  in  addition  to  his  musket  and  ac- 
coutrements forty  rounds  of  ammunition  in  his  cartridge 
box,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty  more  in  his  pockets  or 
haversack.  The  provision  issued  was  a  much  abridged 
ration,  but  each  soldier  was  required  to  carry  a  five-days' 
supply  of  hard  bread  and  salt  pork,  and  with  its  issue 
came  the  information  that  such  supply  must  last  him 
from  seven  to  ten  days  as  occasion  might  require.  A 
herd  of  live  cattle  was  to  be  driven  in  the  rear  of  the 
army,  from  which  fresh  meat  was  to  be  issued  occasion- 


April,  18M.         PREPARING  FOR  A  NEW  CAMPAIGN.  159 

ally,  but  these  soon  grew  so  thin  from  hard  driving  and 
lack  of  forage  that  the  men  spoke  in  derision  of  that  part 
of  the  ration  "as  beef  dried  on  the  hoof." 

But  if  the  men  were  limited  in  their  supply  of  bread 
and  meat,  the  ration  was  more  than  made  good  by  the 
bountiful  issues  of  sugar  and  coffee,  which  were  gener- 
ous in  quantity  and  above  reproach  in  quality.  The 
men  had  learned  how  to  extract  from  the  coffee  its  most 
subtle  virtues,  and  although  brewed  in  the  most  primi- 
tive manner,  "strong  enough  to  float  an  iron  wedge" 
and  innocent  of  any  adulteration,  it  gave  strength  to  the 
weary  and  heavy  laden,  and  courage  to  the  despondent 
and  sick  at  heart. 

Thus  stripped  of  all  baggage  that  could  possibly  be 
dispensed  with,  and  ready  for  instant  battle,  the  army 
was  prepared  to  move  from  Chattanooga.  The  sick 
and  the  afflicted  were  sent  to  the  rear,  and  for  twelve 
long  months  and  until  the  end  of  the  war,  drills  and 
parades  were  abandoned.  The  fife's  shrill  note  and  the 
sounding  drum-beat  were  seldom  heard,  as  to  the  stir- 
ring bugle  call  the  army  marched  and  fought  its  way  to 
the  sea,  and  on  through  the  birthplace  of  secession  to 
victory  and  to  peace. 

It  is  true  our  army  largely  outnumbered  that  of  the 
enemy.  But  the  strength  of  his  defensive  positions  in  a 
country  abounding  in  mountains  and  rivers,  where 
almost  every  citizen  was  an  active  scout  or  spy,  and  his 
shorter  lines  of  communications  fully  compensated  him 
for  his  inferior  numbers.  Thus  Sherman  would  be  com- 
pelled to  attack  the  enemy  in  positions  naturally  strong, 
chosen  with  skill,  carefully  fortified  and  defended  with 
the  courage  of  desperation. 


160  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  April,  1864. 

The  following-  commissioned  officers  resigned  on  the 
dates  given  below,  but  on  account  of  the  reduced 
strength  of  the  regiment  none  of  the  vacancies  created 
were  filled  at  the  time,  and  some  never  were:  George 
Myers,  second  lieutenant  of  Company  B,  on  January 
2  ist;  William  W.  Turner,  second  lieutenant  of  Company 

D,  on  March  3Oth ;  Thomas  R.  Roberts,  captain  of  Com- 
pany A,  on  April  I5th,  and  James  C.  Patterson,  second 
assistant  surgeon,  on  April  i6th,  leaving  Surgeon  P.  L. 
Dieffenbacher  without  an  assistant  in  the  discharge  of 
his  arduous  duties  until  late  in  the  summer. 

The  following  enlisted  men  died  during  the  period 
of  which  this  chapter  treats :  John  Barnett,  of  Company 

E,  in  field  hospital  at    McAffee's    church,  April  2Oth; 
Aaron  Brewer,  of  Company  G,  in  the  field  hospital  at 
McAffee's  church,  on  January  22nd ;  Daniel  T.  Joneson, 
of   Company  K,  at   Richmond,  Va.,  on   February  4th ; 
James  Gary,  of  Company  F,  of  wounds  on  March  nth, 
and  Joseph  Orange,  of  same  company,  on  March  28th, 
in  the  field  hospital  at  McAffee's  church. 

The  official  report  for  April  3Oth  gives  a  total  present 
for  duty  in  the  Eighty-fifth  of  439. 


May,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  161 

CHAPTER  XIV. 


On  May  ist,  1864,  more  than  two  hundred  thousand 
men  stood  ready  to  move  against  the  enemy  at  the  bid- 
ding of  Lieutenant  General  Grant.  While  these  troops 
were  divided  into  two  widely  separated  columns,  of 
nearly  equal  strength,  they  had  a  common  object,  the 
destruction  of  the  rebel  army  under  General  Lee  in  front 
of  Richmond,  and  that  under  General  Johnston  standing 
in  front  of  Dalton.  And  on  the  fate  of  these  armies 
rested  the  hopes  of  the  Confederacy. 

The  column  which  General  Sherman  was  to  move 
against  the  enemy  at  Dalton  was  composed  of  the  Army 
of  the  Ohio,  comprising  the  Twenty-third  corps,  com- 
manded by  Major  General  J.  M.  Schofield,  with  13,500 
men  and  28  guns ;  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  compris- 
ing portions  of  the  Fifteenth,  Sixteenth  and  Seventeenth 
corps,  now  arriving  at  Chattanooga  under  command  of 
Major  General  James  B.  McPherson,  with  24,000  men 
and  96  guns,  and  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  com- 
manded by  Major  General  George  H.  Thomas,  with 
60,000  men  and  130  guns.  The  Army  of  the  Cumber- 
land was  composed  of  the  Fourth,  Fourteenth  and 
Twentieth  Army  corps,  and  three  divisions  of  cavalry, 
commanded  by  Generals  Judson  Kilpatrick,  Edward  M. 
McCook  and  Kenner  Garrard — the  whole  making  a 
grand  aggregate  of  98,797  men  and  254  guns.* 

The  Fourteenth  Army  corps,  commanded  by  Major 
General  John  M.  Palmer,  numbered  19,637  effective 


*  Memoirs  of  General  W.  T.  Sherman,  Vol.  II,  page  24. 


162  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  May,  18W. 

men.  The  First  division  was  commanded  by  Brigadier 
General  Richard  W.  Johnson;  Second  division,  by  Brig- 
adier General  Jefferson  C.  Davis,  and  the  Third  division, 
by  Brigadier  General  Absalom  Baird.  The  brigade 
commanders  in  the  Second  division  were:  First  bri- 
gade, Brigadier  James  D.  Morgan;  Second,  Colonel 
John  G.  Mitchell,  and  Third,  Colonel  Daniel  McCook. 
The  monthly  report  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  for 
April  3Oth,  1864,*  shows  7,135  effective  men  in  the  Sec- 
ond division.  But  unfortunately  these  monthly  returns 
do  not  descend  to  brigades  and  regiments. 

On  the  part  of  the  Eighty-fifth  the  campaign  began 
on  Tuesday  morning,  May  3rd,  when  the  Third  brigade 
left  its  camp  at  Lee  and  Gordon's  mills,  and  that  evening 
it  joined  the  First  and  Second  brigades  from  the  camps 
at  McAffee's  church,  at  Ringgold.  On  the  5th  we  moved 
through  Thoroughfare  Gap,  and  camped  at  the  forks  of 
the  Cleveland  and  Dalton  roads,  not  far  from  Catoosa 
Springs.  Before  the  war  Catoosa  Springs  had  been  a 
favorite  health  and  pleasure  resort,  but  at  this  time  both 
buildings  and  grounds  were  in  a  very  dilapidated  condi- 
tion. During  the  day,  although  the  enemy  was  in  plain 
view  on  the  hills  beyond,  there  were  few  in  the  command 
who  did  not  visit  the  famous  watering  place. 

By  the  evening  of  the  6th  all  the  forces  were  in  line, 
and  General  Sherman's  grand  army  ready  to  close  down 
on  Dalton  and  General  Johnston's  veteran  army.  We 
were  on  familiar  ground,  having  skirmished  over  it  in 
February,  and  all  understood  that  we  would  be  up 
against  a  tough  proposition  as  soon  as  the  advance 
began. 
*  Rebellion  Records,  Serial  No.  75. 


May,  ISM.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  163 

Saturday,  the  7th,  the  entire  army  moved  forward. 
Reveille  sounded  at  half-past  three  o'clock,  and  before 
sunrise  the  troops  were  on  the  march.  The  advance 
was  assigned  to  our  division,  with  the  Third  brigade  in 
front.  The  enemy's  cavalry  pickets  were  soon  en- 
countered, but  were  steadily  driven  by  the  skirmish  line 
of  the  Fifty-second  Ohio  until  within  cannon  range  of 
Tunnel  Hill.  At  this  point  the  enemy  opened  with  ar- 
tillery; our  batteries  were  brought  into  action,  and  a 
sharp  fight  ensued,  in  which  the  enemy  were  driven  into 
Buzzard  Roost.  The  advance  seized  a  high  round  hill, 
known  to  us  as  Signal  Hill,  and  around  it  the  Second 
Division  bivouacked  until  the  Qth.  On  the  afternoon  of 
that  day  the  Second  brigade,  supported  by  the  Third, 
advanced  along  the  left  of  the  railroad  and  swept  the 
enemy  from  a  line  of  hills  in  front  of  the  gap,  and  the  en- 
tire division  took  a  position  in  Buzzard  Roost. 

On  the  loth  the  division  pressed  the  enemy  back  into 
the  gorge  until  his  lines  were  fully  developed,  and  our 
batteries  were  brought  to  bear  on  his  entrenchments. 
The  rattle  of  musketry  and  the  roar  of  cannon  continued 
throughout  the  day.  Rain  was  falling  steadily  and  the 
pungent  smell  of  battle  smoke  filled  the  valleys.  The 
faces  of  the  men  were  powder-grimed  and  their  clothing 
stained  with  the  soil  from  the  protecting  hillsides.  After 
the  advance  had  gone  to  the  utmost  and  the  men  began 
to  make  the  best  of  an  ugly  situation,  the  first  mail  ar- 
rived since  the  regiment  left  Lee  and  Gordon's  mills. 
But  as  soon  as  its  distribution  drew  a  crowd,  the  vigilant 
enemy's  shells  began  to  fall  around  in  such  numbers  that 
the  men  quickly  returned  to  such  shelter  as  tree,  or  rock, 
or  hillside  afforded.  In  the  evening  the  weather  turned 


164  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  May,  1864. 

unusually  cold  for  the  time  of  year,  but  the  position  held 
by  the  command  was  so  close  under  the  enemy's  guns 
that  the  men  had  to  spend  the  night  without  fire.  The 
next  morning  we  were  relieved  by  a  brigade  from  the 
Fourth  corps,  and  retired  to  the  vicinity  of  Signal  Hill, 
where  we  enjoyed  a  day  of  rest.  The  Eighty-fifth  lay 
near  the  signal  station,  at  which  General  Sherman  spent 
most  of  the  day,  and  from  which  the  fighting  in  the  gap 
and  on  the  hills  to  the  right  and  left  of  it  could  be  plainly 
seen. 

On  the  I2th  the  Second  division  marched  at  sunrise 
for  Snake  Creek  Gap,  which  was  reached  after  a  march  of 
fourteen  miles  at  dark.  After  a  brief  halt  for  supper  the 
march  was  resumed,  and  continued  until  near  daylight. 
The  night  trip,  through  this  famous  gap,  was  one  to  be 
remembered.  The  division  was  in  the  rear  of  the  corps, 
and  through  the  long  hours  the  column  toiled  on 
through  the  narrow,  crooked  defile.  The  night  march 
was  not  a  long  one  when  the  number  of  miles  traversed 
is  considered,  for  this  wild  and  picturesque  defile  is  but 
six  miles  in  length.  But  the  road  was  only  such  a  track 
as  country  wagons  had  worn  in  the  bed  of  a  stream  that 
meanders  through  Rocky  Face  mountain,  or  passed  over 
projecting  spurs.  The  artillery  and  ammunition  trains 
in  front  delayed  the  march,  yet  the  men  were  not  allowed 
to  tarry  more  than  a  few  moments  at  any  point  for  rest. 
Many  sank  down  from  exhaustion,  feeling  they  could 
not  go  another  step.  At  last,  near  daybreak,  the  weary 
column  halted,  and  the  soldiers  set  about  preparing  cof- 
fee and  frying  meaj;  over  quickly  kindled  bivouac  fires. 

The  Army  of  the  Tennessee  passed  through  Snake 
Creek  Gap  on  the  afternoon  of  the  Qth,  but  after  pressing 


D.   L.  MUSSULMAN, 

2O  LIEUTKNANT  COMPAXr  <i,    II 


165 


M.f 


May.lSW,  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  167 

his  advance  close  to  the  enemy's  fortifications,  General 
McPherson  decided  not  to  attempt  to  carry  them  by 
assault  and  prudently  waited  the  arrival  of  reinforce- 
ments. The  movement  of  a  strong  column  to  his  sup- 
port rendered  the  position  of  General  Johnston  at  Dai- 
ton  untenable,  and  while  the  Twenty-third  corps  of  the 
Army  of  the  Ohio,  and  the  Fourteenth  and  Twentieth 
corps  of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland  were  moving 
through  Snake  Creek  Gap,  the  enemy  retired  to  his  de- 
fenses near  Resaca.  This  town  stands  on  the  north  bank 
of  the  Oostanaula  river.  The  Connasauga  falls  into 
the  river  just  above  the  town,  while  Camp  creek 
flows  into  the  Oostanaula  immediately  below.  North 
of  Resaca,  and  between  Camp  creek  and  the  Conna- 
sauga, were  hills,  which  made  it  a  very  strong  place  for 
the  entrenched  camp  which  the  rebel  commander  had 
prepared  for  his  army. 

After  a  brief  rest  on  the  morning  of  the  I3th  the 
Second  division  took  a  position  on  the  left  of  the  corps  in 
the  advance  upon  the  enemy's  entrenched  lines.  The 
fighting  during  the  day  was  confined  principally  to  our 
right,  and  but  little  opposition  was  encountered  on  our 
immediate  front.  That  night  the  Third  brigade  occu- 
pied a  position  on  the  left  of  the  corps,  our  pickets  con- 
necting with  the  right  of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio.  On 
the  I4th  the  command  advanced,  conforming  to  the 
movements  of  troops  on  the  right,  but  without  becoming 
actively  engaged.  During  the  day  there  was  heavy 
fighting  along  the  lines,  and  part  of  the  enemy's  works 
were  captured  with  several  pieces  of  artillery.  In  the 
afternoon  the  Third  brigade  was  massed  in  support  of 
the  First  division,  and  came  under  a  sharp  artillery  fire. 

11 


168  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  May,  1864, 

That  night  we  relieved  the  brigade  of  General  Carlin,  of 
the  First  division,  and  during  the  night  completed  the 
works  he  had  already  begun  on  the  front  line.  All  day 
Sunday,  the  I5th,  there  was  sharp  skirmishing  and  shot 
and  shell  came  plunging  through  the  timber.  The 
muskets  spoke  spitefully  and  the  bullets  sped  singing 
over  the  works  and  many  came  pattering  down  among 
the  men,  striking  logs  and  trees,  or  cutting  off  leaves 
overhead,-  Jacob  Bortzfield,  of  Company  A,  being 
wounded. 

During  the  day  Sherman  contracted  and  strength- 
ened his  lines,  and  a  pontoon  bridge  was  laid  below  the 
town,  and  the  cavalry  crossed,  threatening  the  enemy's 
flank.  Johnston's  position,  although  very  strong,  had 
the  fatal  defect  of  giving  him  a  river  at  his  back,  and  a 
small  force  on  the  opposite  bank  would  make  his  invest- 
ment complete.  Seeing  that  he  could  no  longer  remain 
in  safety,  he  withdrew  during  the  night  of  the  I5th,  de- 
stroying the  railroad  bridge  behind  him.  So  when  the 
bugles  sounded  on  the  morning  of  the  i6th  the  rebel 
works  were  found  to  be  deserted,  and  the  army  entered 
upon  a  vigorous  pursuit  of  the  enemy. 

At  sunrise  General  Davis  moved  the  Second  division 
rapidly  down  the  west  bank  of  the  Oostanaula,  under 
orders  to  cross  the  river  at  a  bridge  supposed  to  be  near 
the  mouth  of  Armuchee  creek,  and  thrust  the  division 
between  the  retreating  enemy  and  a  rebel  force  known  to 
be  at  Rome.  After  a  rapid  march  of  fifteen  miles  the 
command  reached  the  point  where  the  bridge  was  sup- 
posed to  be,  but  there  was  no  bridge,  indeed,  there  had 
never  been  any.  The  river  was  too  deep  to  ford.  We 
had  no  pontoons,  and  how  to  act  under  the  embarrassing 


May,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  169 

circumstances  became  a  difficult  problem.  But  General 
Davis  was  a  man  of  action,  and  believing  that  the  main 
object  of  the  expedition  could  best  be  obtained  by  push- 
ing on  to  Rome,  he  determined  to  try  to  seize  a  bridge  at 
that  place. 

The  next  morning  a  rapid  march  began  at  daylight, 
and  ten  miles  were  covered  by  noon,  when  we  encount- 
ered the  enemy's  pickets  at  a  creek  eight  miles  from 
Rome.  Here  the  men  cooked  and  ate  dinner;  the  trains 
were  parked  and  left  under  guard  of  two  regiments,  and 
at  two  o'clock  the  headlong  march  was  resumed.  A 
double  skirmish  line  drove  the  enemy  without  causing  a 
halt  in  the  column,  until  he  opened  with  artillery  from 
his  works  on  De  Soto  hill,  on  the  west  side  of  the  Oos- 
tanaula  river.  Preparations  for  attack  were  quickly 
made ;  the  Second  brigade  on  the  right,  the  Third  on  the 
left  of  the  Resaca  and  Rome  road,  and  the  First  massed 
in  support.  The  Eighty-fifth  was  formed  in  the  second 
line,  and  on  the  left  of  the  brigade.  The  order  to  ad- 
vance was  given  and  the  entire  line  moved  rapidly  for- 
ward, arriving  at  the  top  of  a  ridge  just  in  time  to  meet 
the  enemy  ascending  trie  opposite  slope.  Instantly  both 
sides  opened  fire,  which  was  furious  and  well  sustained 
for  some  time,  but  we  had  the  ridge  and  soon  drove  the 
enemy  into  his  entrenchments,  capturing  one  piece  of 
artillery  abandoned  by  the  insurgents  in  their  hasty 
flight.  Near  the  close  of  the  action  the  Eighty-fifth  was 
moved  to  the  left  and  front,  and  at  the  end  of  the  fight  it 
was  in  the  front  line. 

At  dark  the  left  of  the  Eighty-fifth  rested  on  the  river, 
and  the  enemy  had  been  driven  into  his  defenses  erected 
for  the  protection  of  Rome,  the  county  seat  of  Floyd 


170  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  May,  1864. 

county,  Georgia.  This  was  a  city  of  some  three  thou- 
sand inhabitants  when  the  war  commenced,  and  is  situ- 
ated at  the  point  where  the  waters  of  the  Oostanaula  and 
the  Etowah  unite  to  form  the  Coosa  river.  As  the  city 
was  known  to  contain  extensive  iron  works,  foundries 
and  machine  shops,  it  was  reasonable  to  expect  a  stub- 
born defense,  and  the  line  was  connected  and  made 
strong  during  the  night.  Our  line  extended  from  the 
river  above  to  the  river  below  the  town,  completely  in- 
vesting the  enemy's  works.  Then  the  tired  men,  who 
had  marched  eighteen  miles  and  fought  a  very  pretty  lit- 
tle battle,  rested  on  their  arms  for  the  night. 

A  heavy  fog  delayed  the  attack  until  nine  o'clock  the 
next  morning,  when  the  skirmish  line  rushed  forward 
and  wrested  the  works  from  the  enemy's  skirmishers. 
But  the  retreating  enemy  burned  the  bridges  in  his 
flight,  and  under  the  protection  of  his  batteries  hoped  to 
hold  the  city  until  his  stores  could  be  removed  to  a  place 
of  safety.  Two  batteries  located  in  formidable  looking 
field  works,  one  above  the  city  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Oostanaula,  and  one  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Coosa 
below,  opened  fire  on  our  advance,  but  our  batteries  soon 
silenced  them.  In  the  meantime,  the  Eighty-fifth  had 
been  constructing  rafts  of  fence  rails,  on  which  the  men 
placed  their  arms,  ammunition  and  clothing,  then  swim- 
ming the  Oostanaula  they  pushed  these  rafts  before  them 
to  the  opposite  shore.  Once  on  the  other  side  a  skir- 
mish line  was  quickly  formed  under  the  direction  of 
Colonel  Dilworth  and  other  officers  of  the  Eighty-fifth, 
which  drove  the  enemy  from  the  city  and  raised  the  ban- 
ner of  freedom  over  rebellious  Rome.  So  rapid  was  the 
advance  of  the  Eighty-fifth  from  an  unexpected  quarter 


May,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  171 

that  a  sufficient  number  of  pontoons  were  captured  to 
bridge  the  Oostanaula,  and  a  few  hours  later  the  Third 
brigade  crossed  the  river  and  occupied  the  city. 

The  division  captured  three  pieces  of  field  artillery, 
five  32-pounder  garrison  guns,  and  two  8-inch  Howitz- 
ers, together  with  large  stores  of  quartermaster,  commis- 
sary and  medical  supplies,  great  quantities  of  cotton  and 
tobacco,  a  train  loaded  with  salt,  and  the  extensive  iron- 
works, foundries  and  machine  shops,  upon  which  the 
enemy  relied  for  a  large  part  of  his  ordnance  supplies  and 
repairs.  It  was  the  intention  of  the  enemy  to  remove 
the  stores  and  destroy  the  shops  and  foundries,  but  our 
advance  was  so  rapid  and  the  attack  so  prompt  and  ener- 
getic that  he  was  compelled  to  fly  before  his  purpose 
could  be  accomplished. 

The  men  always  took  great  pride  in  this  battle,  which 
was  fought  out  by  the  Second  division  alone.  The  day 
was  very  warm ;  the  men  marched  eighteen  miles,  and  for 
almost  half  the  distance  had  skirmished  with  the  enemy. 
And  had  it  not  been  for  the  fact  that  the  attention  of  tne 
entire  country  was  so  largely  directed  to  the  manouevres, 
battles  and  actions  of  such  vast  armies,  both  east  and 
west,  this  battle  would  have  been  considered,  and  justly 
so,  a  very  important  victory  for  the  Union  cause.  The 
division  lost  in  this  engagement  one  hundred  and  forty- 
nine  in  killed  and  wounded.  The  losses  of  the  enemy 
were  never  reported,  but  as  he  fought  behind  entrench- 
ments most  of  the  time,  his  killed  and  wounded  probably 
numbered  less  than  ours. 

The  pickets  of  the  enemy  continued  to  hold  the  south 
bank  of  the  Coosa  river  for  several  days,  and  kept  up  at 
intervals  a  vicious  skirmish  firing  into  the  city,  killing 


172  'HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  May,  1864. 

and  wounding-  soldiers  and  citizens  indiscriminately.  But 
we  were  compelled  to  await  the  arrival  of  additional  pon- 
toons from  the  main  army  before  we  could  dislodge  the 
enemy  from  the  farther  shore.  However,  on  the  22nd 
sufficient  pontoons  arrived  to  span  the  river  below  the 
city,  when  the  First  brigade  laid  a  bridge,  crossed  the 
river,  seized  the  enemy's  works,  and  drove  him  from  that 
entire  front.  The  six  days  of  rest  at  Rome  were  most 
welcome,  and  the  men  made  good  use  of  their  opportu- 
nity. The  first  thing  with  most  of  them  was  a  bath,  next 
they  thoroughly  washed  their  clothing.  Then  after  they 
had  slept  all  they  cared  to,  they  wandered  through  the 
cosy  little  city,  and  if  the  company  of  the  Roman 
Nobles  (?),  most  of  whom  had  fled  with  the  rebel  army, 
was  missed,  no  soldier  complained  of  their  absence.  On 
the  23rd.  the  Second  brigade  and  the  batteries  crossed  to 
the  south  side  of  the  Coosa;  three  days'  rations  were 
issued  to  each  man,  and  preparations  completed  for  an 
early  advance  on  the  next  morning.  The  casualties  in 
the  Eighty-fifth  were:  Richard  Maguire,  of  Company 
E,  wounded,  and  N.  J.  Kemp,  of  Company  K,  wounded. 
At  five  o'clock  on  Tuesday  morning,  the  24th,  the 
Second  division  moved  out  of  Rome  on  the  direct  road 
to  Van  Wert.  A  march  of  eighteen  miles  brought  us  in 
touch  with  the  main  army,  the  right  under  General  Mc- 
Pherson  being  at  Van  Wert.  That  night  we  camped  on 
Euharlee  creek.  The  next  day  we  passed  to  the  left  of 
Van  Wert,  over  a  point  of  Alatoona  mountain,  and  that 
night  camped  near  Dallas  and  in  close  support  of  the 
main  column.  The  march  had  been  long  and  rapid,  and 
during  the  afternoon  a  pouring  rain  fell.  The  noise  of 
battle  mingled  with  the  peals  of  thunder,  for  in  the  midst 


May,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  173 

of  the  storm  the  troops  under  General  Hooker  fought  a 
bloody  battle  near  New  Hope  church.  The  rain  contin- 
ued through  the  night,  making  our  camp,  which  we 
reached  very  late,  utterly  wretched. 

On  the  26th  the  division  was  ordered  to  move  toward 
Dallas,  and  after  crossing  Pumpkin  Vine  creek  at  Bish- 
op's bridge,  some  two  miles  northwest  of  the  town,  the 
enemy's  pickets  were  found  on  the  Burnt  Hickory  road. 
Our  skirmishers  drove  the  enemy  through  Dallas,  and 
the  division  formed  a  line  of  battle  on  the  East  Marietta 
road.  The  enemy  was  found  behind  strong  entrench- 
ments extending  across  this  road,  his  right  resting  on 
the  west  end  of  Ellisberry  mountain,  and  the  men  rested 
on  their  arms  for  the  night.  The  next  morning  the  Third 
brigade  advanced  with  sharp  skirmishing,  a  mile  or  more 
into  a  gorge  in  the  mountain,  and  during  the  day  the  bri- 
gade in  single  line  was  entrenched  so  as  to  secure  this 
pass.  During  the  afternoon  the  noise  of  fierce  battle 
was  heard  a  few  miles  to  our  left,  and  it  was  learned  that 
a  severe  engagement  resulted  in  an  attempt  to  turn  the 
rebel  right  at  Picket's  mills. 

During  the  day,  the  Twenty-second  Indiana  was  on 
the  skirmish  line,  sustaining  a  loss  of  three  killed,  six 
wounded,  and  two  missing.  That  night  while  being  re- 
lieved by  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois, 
the  enemy  made  a  vigorous  attack,  which  led  to  an  excit- 
ing conflict.  In  the  darkness  and  confusion  of  the  first 
onset  it  was  hard  to  distinguish  friend  from  foe,  and  the 
enemy  captured  one  officer  and  fourteen  men.  A  coun- 
tercharge was  made  immediately,  in  which  two  officers 
and  twenty-seven  men  were  captured  from  the  enemy. 
There  were  a  number  killed  and  wounded  on  both 


174  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  June,  18M. 

sides  in  this  fight  in  the  dark,  but  in  the  end  our  advanced 
position  was  retained,  and  the  enemy  retired  in  utter  con- 
fusion. The  Third  brigade  occupied  this  position,  with 
some  sharp  skirmishing,  until  the  end  of  the  month. 


CHAPTER  XV. 


On  Wednesday,  the  ist,  the  Second  division  moved  to 
the  left  and  joined  the  corps  in  the  vicinity  of  New  Hope 
church.  During  the  night  it  relieved  Hovey's  division 
of  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  and  occupied  its  entrenchments 
on  a  branch  of  Pumpkin  Vine  creek.  As  the  Eighty- 
fifth  moved  into  position,  through  thick  timber  and  tan- 
gled underbrush,  the  soldiers  of  the  retiring  force  cau- 
tioned us  to  be  very  careful,  as  the  line  was  within  short 
rifle  range  of  the  enemy,  who  had  "sharpshooters  in  the 
trees."  Colonel  Dilworth  on  hearing  this  statement 
said  :  "Well,  we  will  turkey  hunt  them  in  the  morning." 
This  grim  reply  of  the  colonel  had  a  good  effect  on  the 
men,  who  found  the  situation  fully  as  ugly  as  it  had  been 
represented.  A  line  of  hills  within  short  range  was  held 
by  the  entrenched  line  of  the  enemy,  and  dominated  our 
line  completely.  Our  skirmish  line  was  close  in,  and 
every  shot  fired  by  the  enemy  swept  our  works  and  the 
ground  behind  them.  Several  men  were  wounded  close 
by  the  works,  two  of  whom,  William  Collins  and  John 
W.  McClaren,  of  Company  H,  were  wounded  by  the 
same  ball. 

This  ugly  fight  at  short  range  continued  until  the 
4th,  when  the  brigade  was  relieved  from  the  firing  line, 
and  moved  four  miles  to  the  left  in  a  soaking  rain.  Dur- 


June,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  175 

ing  the  night  of  the  5th  the  enemy  evacuated  his  works, 
and  early  the  next  morning,  the  brigade  having  the  ad- 
vance of  the  corps,  moved  to  Proctor's  creek,  two  miles 
south  of  Ackworth,  on  the  road  from  that  town  to  Big 
Shanty.  Here  the  Eighty-fifth  remained  in  comparative 
quiet  until  the  loth,  when  it  took  part  in  the  advance  of 
the  entire  army.  The  advance  was  made  through  heavy 
woods,  with  here  and  there  a  small  clearing ;  over  swollen 
streams  and  muddy  roads;  with  constant  skirmishing, 
and  in  frequent  heavy  rain  storms.  This  continued  until 
the  evening  of  the  I3th,  when  the  lines  closed  down  on 
the  enemy's  lines  at  Pine  mountain.  The  left  of  the 
division  now  rested  on  the  Atlantic  and  Western  railway, 
where  it  connected  with  the  Sixteenth  army  corps.  On 
the  bald  crest  of  Pine  mountain  the  enemy  had  his  signal 
station  and  a  battery  of  field  artillery.  On  the  I4th  a 
group  of  rebel  officers  was  seen  near  their  signal  station, 
evidently  observing  our  lines  with  their  glasses.  At  the 
time  General  Sherman  was  near  a  battery  near  our  right, 
which  he  directed  to  fire  on  the  group.  This  battery 
fired  three  volleys,  and  the  commotion  caused  in  the 
enemy's  ranks  showed  that  the  shots  had  been  well 
aimed.  Very  soon  a  message  was  taken  from  the  rebel 
signal  station  and  translated  by  one  of  our  officers  who 
had  learned  the  enemy's  "key,"  which  read:  "Send  an 
ambulance  for  General  Polk's  body."  From  this  it  was 
surmised  that  General  Polk  had  been  killed,  and  later  in 
the  same  day  this  was  confirmed  by  the  admissions  of 
prisoners  captured. 

General  Leonidas  Polk  was  a  brother  of  James  K. 
Polk,  the  eleventh  President  of  the  United  States.*     He 

*  Campaigns  of  the  Civil  War,  by  General  J.  D.  Cox,  page  98. 


176  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  June,  law. 

was  graduated  at  the  West  Point  Military  Academy  in 
the  class  of  1827,  and  was  appointed  second  lieutenant  of 
artillery.  He  resigned  his  commission  before  the  end  of 
the  year,  studied  theology  and  was  ordained  as  deacon  in 
the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  in  1830.  In  1841  he 
was  chosen  bishop  of  Louisiana,  holding  this  position  at 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  had  grown  very  wealthy  at 
the  time  of  the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  and  was  reported 
to  be  the  owner  of  seven  hundred  slaves.  Entering  the 
rebel  service  in  1861,  his  military  education  and  promi- 
nence in  the  church  secured  for  him  an  important  com- 
mand, probably  more  important  than  his  talents  and 
luxurious  habits  fitted  him  for  filling.  At  Chickamauga 
he  commanded  the  right  of  the  rebel  army,  but  was 
relieved  from  command  and  placed  under  arrest  for  dis- 
obedience of  orders  soon  after  the  battle  ended.  A  few 
months  later  he  was  relieved  from  the  severe  censure  put 
upon  him  by  General  Bragg  for  dilatory  conduct,  and  at 
the  time  he  was  killed  he  was  in  command  of  one  of  the 
three  corps  composing  the  insurgent  army  in  our  front. 
He  was  a  man  of  full  habit ;  deliberate  in  his  actions,  and 
had  influenced  a  multitude  of  his  followers  in  casting 
their  lot  with  the  enemies  of  his  country.  At  the  time  he 
was  killed  the  first  volley  from  the  battery  dispersed  his 
companions  on  the  mountain,  but  his  bulk  and  dignity 
alike  forbade  hasty  retreat,  and  a  shell  from  the  second 
volley  severed  the  body  of  the  bishop  general  of  the  Con- 
federacy. 

From  the  I4th  to  the  evening  of  the  i8th  the  advance 
was  continued  with  sharp  skirmishing  at  all  times,  and 
with  frequent  hard  fights,  the  division  closing  down  on 
the  entrenched  line  of  the  enemy  at  Kennesaw  moun- 


June,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  177 

tain  on  the  latter  date.  On  the  igth  the  battle  of 
Gulp's  farm  was  fought  by  Hooker  and  Schofield,  far  to 
the  right,  in  which  the  enemy  was  defeated  with  heavy 
loss.  Rain  fell  every  few  hours,  and  in  the  intervals  be- 
tween showers  the  weather  was  very  hot  and  sultry.  On 
the  2 ist  General  Sherman  telegraphed  to  Washington: 
"This  is  the  nineteenth  day  of  rain,  and  the  prospect  of 
clear  weather  is  as  far  off  as  ever.  The  roads  are  impas- 
sable, and  fields  and  woods  become  quagmires  after  a 
few  wagons  have  crossed,  yet  we  are  at  work  all  of  the 
time." 

In  our  front  the  enemy  had  an  earthwork  on  top  of 
the  mountain,  in  which  were  ten  or  twelve  pieces  of  artil- 
lery, and  these  guns  commanded  the  entire  line  of  the 
division.  We  threw  up  a  strong  line  of  earthworks  for 
the  infantry  line  and  field  works  were  constructed  for  our 
batteries.  A  stream  ran  from  left  to  right  across  our 
front  and  near  the  base  of  the  mountain.  The  enemy's 
skirmish  line  was  beyond  the  stream,  and  still  higher  on 
the  mountain  side  was  his  main  line  of  entrenchments. 
His  lines  and  batteries  were  all  in  thick  timber  except  his 
guns  on  the  mountain  top. 

Screened  by  the  dense  forest,  the  enemy  found  it  dif- 
ficult to  get  accurate  range  of  our  entrenchments.  But 
during  the  day  if  men  were  seen  or  a  glimpse  of  a  tent  fly 
was  caught  through  the  wind-tossed  leaves  and 
branches,  his  alert  gunners  would  sweep  the  spot  with 
shot  and  shell  until  it  seemed  no  living  thing  could 
escape.  And  at  night  the  flickering  light  from  candle  or 
fire  would  provoke  a  shower  of  shot  from  the  ever-ready 
batteries  of  the  enemy.  Near  midnight  of  the  22nd,  while 
Surgeon  Wilson,  of  the  H3th  Ohio,  was  dressing  the 


178  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  June,  1864. 

wounds  of  one  of  his  men,  assisted  by  two  others,  the 
candle  he  was  using  drew  the  fire  of  the  rebel  battery, 
when  a  solid  shot  carried  away  a  leg  from  each  of  the 
surgeon's  assistants.*  Our  earthworks  were  proof 
against  both  shot  and  shell,  and  the  men,  suffering  from 
the  heat  and  weary  of  the  trench,  would  select  some  one 
to  watch  the  battery  and  give  notice  when  it  was  about 
to  fire.  This  was  entirely  practicable,  as  the  gunners 
could  be  seen  as  they  rammed  the  charge  home,  then  a 
puff  of  smoke  would  appear,  and  in  two  or  three  seconds 
a  shot  or  shell  would  follow,  screeching  and  shrieking 
through  the  air.  On  the  signal  being  given  the  men 
would  quickly  get  under  cover,  while  shot  and  shell  tore 
through  the  tree-tops,  or  striking  in  front,  ricochetted 
across  the  works,  to  burst  or  land  far  in  the  rear.  The 
exploding  shells  at  times  made  an  almost  constant  roar ; 
pieces  of  jagged  iron  were  thrown  in  all  directions,  and 
great  branches  were  torn  from  the  trees  and  fell  among 
the  men.  And  day  and  night  this  trying  ordeal  contin- 
ued until  the  division  was  relieved  for  a  most  desperate 
undertaking. 

Men  get  desperately  tired  and  reckless  under  such 
conditions,  and  on  the  25th,  when  the  rebel  batteries 
opened.  Sergeant  James  Leeper,  of  Company  C,  was 
lying  in  a  shade  only  ten  feet  from  the  trench  when  the 
danger  signal  was  given,  but  he  declined  to  seek  cover. 
An  instant  later  a  shell  burst  directly  above  where  he  was 
lying,  the  larger  part  of  which  descended  in  a  direct  line 
and  separated  his  body  into  two  parts. 

But  in  the  midst  of  this  deadly  work  amusing  inci- 
dents happened  now  and  then.  Brigade,  division,  and 

*  Sergeant  McAdams'  History  113th  O.  V.  I.,  page  86. 


June,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  179 

corps  headquarters,  while  in  the  rear,  were  still  within 
the  range  of  that  vicious  battery  on  the  mountain,  and  of 
course  entirely  unprotected.  Captain  Wiseman,  assist- 
ant adjutant  general  on  the  staff  of  the  First  brigade,  had 
occasion  to  visit  corps  headquarters  one  morning,  after 
the  enemy  had  snellecl  each  headquarters  impartially  and 
with  unusual  vigor  and  accuracy.  On  this  occasion 
Wiseman  said :  "Around  corps  headquarters  I  found 
the  ground  literally  covered  with  limbs  torn  from  the 
surrounding  trees,  and  the  tents  torn  by  shot  and  shell. 
In  the  midst  of  .this  desolation  sat  General  John  M. 
Palmer,  in  his  shirt  sleeves,  vigorously  fanning  himself, 
behind  the  trunk  of  a  large  tree  whose  top  had  been  shot 
away  that  morning.  After  attending  to  my  business  and 
chatting  a  moment  about  the  situation,  I  turned  to  leave, 
when  the  general  called  me  back  and  said,  'Adjutant, 
don't  you  wish  this  cruel  war  was  over?'  I  replied  that 
it  certainly  was  an  event  earnestly  desired  by  all,  and  by 
none  more  than  by  his  command  under  present  circum- 
stances, and  again  I  turned  to  leave,  when  the  general 
said,  'Adjutant,  present  my  compliments  to  General 
Morgan,  and  say  to  him  that  these  headquarters  will 
move  as  soon  as  darkness  will  permit.' ' 

At  nine  o'clock  on  Saturday  night,  the  25th,  the  Sec- 
ond division  was  relieved  by  Harrow's  division  of  the 
Fifteenth  corps,  and  withdrew  from  the  works  at  the 
northwestern  slope  of  Kennesaw,  which  it  had  occupied 
since  the  i8th.  The  withdrawal  was  made  in  silence, 
and  every  precaution  was  observed  on  the  march  to  pre- 
vent the  enemy  from  gaining  a  knowledge  of  the  move- 
ment. The  route  by  which  we  retired  lay  through  thick 
timber,  and  was  crossed  by  numerous  ravines,  which  de- 


180  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  June,  MM. 

layed  the  march,  so  that  the  rear  of  the  column  arrived  at 
camp  about  daylight.  The  camp  selected  was  at  a  point 
in  the  rear  of  the  right  of  Stanley's  division  of  the  Fourth 
corps. 

It  was  Sunday,  and  for  the  first  time  in  weeks  the 
men  had  an  opportunity  to  spend  a  day  in  the  silence  of 
the  shady  woods.  There  were  no  bugle  calls  that  day, 
and  after  a  quiet  inspection  of  arms  and  an  issue  of  extra 
ammunition,  the  time  was  devoted  to  undisturbed  rest. 
In  the  distance  an  occasional  cannon  could  be  heard,  but 
the  camp  was  out  of  reach  of  shot  and  shell,  and  beyond 
the  sound  of  the  rifles  on  the  skirmish  line.  Few  outside 
the  officers  knew  of  the  proposed  assault,  and  the  orders 
received  in  the  evening  directing  the  men  to  have  break- 
fast over  and  to  be  ready  to  march  at  daylight,  was  by  no 
means  so  unusual  as  to  excite  curiosity  or  provoke  com- 
ment. Yet  there  were  rumors  floating  through  the 
camp  to  the  effect  that  Monday  would  be  an  eventful 
day. 

The  condition  of  the  roads  and  the  long  lines  of 
wagon  trains  necessary  to  supply  the  daily  demands  of 
the  army  made  it  difficult  for  General  Sherman  to  extend 
his  lines  further  to  the  right,  and  he  resolved  to  make  a 
change  of  plans.  And,  while  keeping  up  a  show  of  mov- 
ing to  the  right,  he  ordered  columns  to  be  formed  near 
his  center,  for  the  purpose  of  assaulting  the  enemy's  for- 
tifications. The  assaulting  columns  were  to  move  at 
nine  o'clock  on  Monday  morning,  while  a  general  attack 
all  along  the  lines  was  ordered  for  the  same  hour  as  a 
diversion  in  favor  of  the  main  assault.  This  assault  was 
to  be  made  near  the  road  leading  from  Gilgal  church  to 
Marietta. 


June,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  181 

At  eight  o'clock  on  Monday  morning,  the  2/th,  the 
troops  selected  for  the  assault  were  formed  in  the  follow- 
ing order:  The  Second  brigade,  Colonel  John  G. 
Mitchell  commanding,  on  the  right.  On  his  left  the 
Third  brigade,  Colonel  Daniel  McCook  commanding, 
both  of  Davis'  division,  in  columns  of  regiments  at  ten 
paces  interval.  On  the  left  of  McCook  was  Newton's 
division  of  the  Fourth  corps,  with  the  brigades  of  Harker 
and  Wagner,  both  formed  in  column  of  division,  left  in 
front.  This  formation,  although  prescribed  by  General 
Howard,  commanding  the  Fourth  corps,  was  unfortu- 
nate, in  that  it  separated  the  brigades  of  Harker  and 
Wagner  from  McCook  by  a  brigade  interval,  and  per- 
mitted the  enemy,  as  the  columns  neared  his  works,  to 
enfilade  not  only  McCook's  left,  but  these  brigades  as 
well.  The  First  brigade,  General  James  D.  Morgan 
commanding,  of  the  Second  division,  had  occupied  our 
advance  line  of  works  early  in  the  morning,  while  the 
two  remaining  divisions  of  the  Fourteenth  corps  under 
General  Palmer,  the  Twentieth  corps  under  General 
Hooker,  and  parts  of  the  Fourth  corps  commanded  by 
General  Howard,  were  near  at  hand,  ready  and  waiting 
to  take  advantage  of  a  breach  in  the  enemy's  line. 

All  the  ground  to  be  passed  over  was  rough  and  diffi- 
cult, and  the  distance  to  be  traversed  before  the  rebel 
works  would  be  reached,  was  about  five  hundred  yards. 
The  brigade  was  formed  in  an  open  field,  which  sloped 
toward  the  marshy  bed  of  a  small  creek  lined  with  trees 
and  matted  vines.  Near  the  creek,  but  on  the  hither 
side,  was  our  main  line  of  works,  now  occupied  by  the 
First  brigade.  Beyond  the  creek  lay  another  field,  and 
on  the  far  side  of  this  were  the  enemy's  skirmishers  in  a 


182  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  June,  MM. 

line  of  rifle  pits.  From  his  skirmish  line  to  the  crest  of 
the  hill,  crowned  with  the  enemy's  main  works,  the 
ground  was  thickly  covered  with  timber,  and  rose  rather 
abruptly.  Directly  in  front  of  the  brigade  was  an  angle 
in  the  rebel  works,  and  he  had  posted  sixteen  pieces  of 
artillery  some  distance  to  the  right  and  left,  which  would 
sweep  the  sides  of  the  angle. 

The  Third  brigade,  in  column  of  regiments  at  ten 
paces  interval,  was  formed  in  the  following  order :  The 
Eighty-fifth  Illinois,  Colonel  C.  J.  Dilworth  command- 
ing ;  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois,  Colonel  O. 
F.  Harman  commanding;  Eighty-sixth  Illinois,  Lieuten- 
ant Colonel  A.  L.  Fahnestock  commanding;  Twenty- 
second  Indiana,  Captain  W.  H.  Snodgrass  commanding ; 
Fifty-second  Ohio,  Lieutenant  Colonel  C.  W.  Clancy 
commanding. 

The  orders  were  to  make  the  assault  in  silence,  cap- 
ture the  works  and  then  cheer,  as  a  signal  for  the  reserves 
to  move  forward  and  beyond  us,  it  being  the  plan  for 
them  to  seize  the  railroad  and  cut  Johnston's  army  in 
two.  The  undertaking  was  the  most  difficult  and  des- 
perate ever  assigned  to  the  troops  designated  for  the 
assault,  but  if  successful  the  victory  would  be  greater 
than  any  they  had  yet  gained. 

The  firing  of  a  single  gun  near  General  Thomas' 
headquarters  at  nine  o'clock  was  the  signal  for  all  our 
batteries  to  open  along  the  main  lines  for  ten  miles  or 
more,  and  for  the  storming  columns  to  start.  The  col- 
umn of  regiments  started  promptly  on  the  signal  given, 
moving  at  quick  time  to  the  chorus  of  three  hundred 
loud-mouthed  cannon,  until  our  works  and  the  creek  had 
been  reached  and  passed.  The  tangled  vines  and  marshy 


OKOUP  OF  COMPANY    (i. 

LIEUT.   JOHN  M     ROBEKTSON. 
-r:i«.  r.    W.    IRVING  SHANNON.  1ST  SEHGT.  JIENKV  J.  ATEN. 


183 


UHHAfiV 

Of  THE 
UNIVERSE  of  ILLINOIS 


June,  18<H.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  185 

creek  somewhat  broke  the  formation,  but  being  a  well- 
drilled  brigade  good  order  was  at  once  restored  as  the 
line  entered  the  open  beyond  the  creek.  Here  a  cloud 
of  skirmishers  was  thrown  forward  on  the  run  from  the 
Eighty-fifth,  and  these  skirmishers  seized  the  enemy's 
rifle  pits,  capturing  his  skirmishers  to  a  man.  Even  then 
the  brigade  was  under  a  heavy  fire  of  both  musketry  and 
artillery,  'but  the  men  moved  through  the  field  steadily 
on  the  double  quick.  When  the  timber  was  reached  on 
the  farther  side,  all  ran  eagerly  up  the  hill,  which  became 
steeper  as  we  neared  the  crest.  Now  the  enemy  re- 
doubled his  efforts,  and  his  cannon  gave  forth  a  continu- 
ous roar.  The  air  seemed  full  of  bullets,  while  a  cross- 
fire of  shot  and  shell  tore  diagonally  through  our  ranks. 
But  the  men  ran  stubbornly  on  until,  within  a  few  feet  of 
the  enemy's  works,  the  limit  of  endurance  was  reached, 
and  out  of  breath  and  almost  overcome  with  the  heat, 
they  halted,  crouched,  and  with  one  accord  began  firing. 
Indeed,  the  momentum  of  the  column  carried  a  few  men 
over  the  works,  to  fall  covered  with  wounds  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy. 

Each  regiment  in  the  brigade  breasted  the  storm,  and 
strove  to  gain  the  works,  until  all  had  tried  and  failed. 
The  colors  of  the  Eighty-fifth  and  of  other  regiments 
were  planted  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  enemy's  works. 
It  is  now  known  that  Captain  Beasley,  of  the  First  Rebel 
Tennessee  infantry,  lost  his  life  in  attempting  to  seize  the 
colors  of  the  Fifty-second  Ohio.  Colonel  McCook, 
while  urging  his  men  on,  himself  in  the  lead,  fell  mortally 
wounded  before  the  charge  had  failed.  After  McCook 
fell  the  voice  of  Captain  Fellows,  brigade  inspector,  was 
heard,  but  his  half-finished  rallying  cry  was  cut  short  by 

12 


186  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  June,  1864. 

a  shot,  and  the  brave  captain  fell  dead  within  a  few  feet 
of  the  coveted  works.  The  command  now  devolved 
upon  Colonel  Harmon,  who  at  the  instant  of  giving  the 
command  "Forward  !"  fell  into  the  arms  of  his  men,  shot 
through  the  heart.  Colonel  Dilworth,  the  next  in  rank, 
now  assumed  command  of  the  brigade,  and  the  com- 
mand of  the  Eighty-fifth  devolved  upon  Major  R.  G. 
Rider.  Each  attempt  to  push  forward  was  met  with 
deadly  volleys,  the  ground  was  thickly  strewn  with  the* 
dead  and  dying,  and  the  living,  crouched  behind  their 
dead  comrades,  still  firing. 

When  the  men  realized  that  they  could  not  carry  the 
works  by  storm,  they  fell  back  doggedly  a  few  paces  at  a 
time,  taking  advantage  of  every  available  shelter.  Very 
soon,  from  every  stump  and  tree,  a  well-sustained  and 
deadly  fire  was  directed  at  any  head  that  appeared  above 
the  enemy's  works.  The  deadly  aim  of  our  men,  from 
a  line  so  close  that  the  features  of  the  foe  could  be  dis- 
tinguished, composed  as  it  soon  was  of  the  crack  shots  of 
the  brigade,  caused  the  fire  of  the  enemy  to  slacken,  and 
finally  it  almost  ceased.  In  the  meantime  the  energetic 
efforts  of  Colonel  Dilworth,  supplemented  by  the  effi- 
cient assistance  of  Major  Rider  and  the  officers  of  the 
other  regiments  in  the  brigade,  straightened  out  the 
tangled  regiments,  which  had  become  somewhat 
bunched  on  the  right,  and  the  well-trained  men  quickly 
found  their  proper  places. 

The  active  attack  along  the  line  having  ceased,  and 
seeing  that  our  fire  completely  dominated  the  rebel 
works,  Colonel  Dilworth  advised  General  Davis  that  his 
line  rested  within  forty  paces  of  the  enemy's  works,  and 
stated  that  he  could  hold  the  ground  gained.  He  also 


June,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  187 

requested  that  entrenching  tools  be  furnished  the  com- 
mand at  once.  This  message  fell  into  the  hands  of  Gen- 
eral Thomas,  who  appeared  to  be  rather  incredulous  as 
to  the  reported  distance  between  the  lines.  After  ques- 
tioning Captain  E.  L.  Anderson,  brigade  adjutant  gen- 
eral, closely  in  that  regard,  General  Thomas  decided  that 
owing  to  the  close  proximity  of  the  brigade  to  the  ene- 
my's works,  entrenching  tools  could  not  be  safely  sent 
until  night-fall.  So  in  this  critical  position,  while  a  large 
portion  of  the  men  kept  on  firing,  the  remainder,  work- 
ing with  bayonet  and  tin  cup  or  spoon  and  tin  plate,  man- 
aged to  throw  up  a  light  earth-work  sufficient  to  protect 
their  prostrate  bodies.  Here  the  brigade  remained  six 
long  days  and  nights,  for  while  the  offer  was  made,  the 
men  declined  to  be  relieved,  preferring  themselves  to 
guard  what  it  had  cost  so  much  to  gain. 

In  the  evening,  after  darkness  had  set  in,  the  enemy 
made  a  noise  which  the  men  supposed  to  be  preparations 
for  a  countercharge,  but  it  was  probably  a  ruse.  Instantly 
the  men  were  on  their  feet,  when  a  volley  was  fired  by  the 
enemy  which  killed  Captain  Charles  H.  Chatfield,  of 
Company  D,  and  several  enlisted  men  of  the  Eighty- 
fifth.  About  this  time  entrenching  tools  arrived,  and  a 
permanent  line  of  works  was  erected,  the  flanks  of  the 
brigade  being  slightly  retired  to  meet  connecting  lines 
on  the  right  and  left.  And  night  and  day  the  fight  was 
continued  over  the  narrow  strip  of  ground,  the  firing 
being  almost  constant,  and  the  men  at  all  times  ready  to 
repel  a  countercharge,  an  emergency  that  might  arise  at 
any  moment. 

On  the  29th  a  truce  was  arranged,  lasting  from  9 
a.  m.  to  4  p.  m.,  under  which  we  were  allowed  to  gather 


188  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  June,  18W. 

and  bury  our  dead  between  the  lines.  Unarmed  guards 
detailed  from  each  side  were  stationed  in  two  lines  facing 
inwardly,  to  prevent  the  passing  of  other  than  the  burial 
party  working  between.  News  of  the  truce  soon  spread, 
and  our  works  were  filled  with  armed  men  from  all  the 
commands  in  the  vicinity.  The  rebel  works  were  also 
crowded  with  spectators,  who  gathered  from  far  and  near 
to  witness  the  unusual  spectacle.  Generals  Cheatham, 
Terrill  and  Maney  circulated  freely  between  the  lines, 
although  this  was  in  direct  violation  of  the  terms  of  the 
truce.  Newspapers,  coffee  and  tobacco  were  exchanged, 
and  much  good-natured  chaff  and  gossip  were  indulged 
in  among  the  men.  But  there  came  a  time  when,  for  the 
moment,  things  began  to  wear  a  serious  aspect.  Some  of 
the  rebels  began  to  gather  up  the  arms  lying  between  the 
lines,  with  the  intention  of  carrying  them  away.  Against 
this  violation  of  the  truce  our  men  protested,  and  the 
situation  was  becoming  ugly,  when  Colonel  Dilworth 
appeared  upon  the  scene.  He  said  to  the  men  engaged 
in  dispute,  "These  guns  belong  to  the  side  that  finally 
holds  the  ground ;  they  have  not  been  captured  yet ;  pos- 
sibly they  may  not  be ;  let  them  remain  where  they  now 
are  until  the  fight  is  ended,  then  whoever  holds  the 
ground  will  get  the  guns."  This  was  a  proposition  so 
fair  that  the  men  accepted,  and  the  arms  remained  on  the 
field,  until  there  was  no  one  to  question  their  ownership. 
During  the  truce  we  learned  that  the  troops  in  our 
front  belonged  to  Cheatham's  division  of  Hardee's  corps, 
under  the  immediate  command  of  General  George 
Maney.  His  command  had  occupied  the  works  since 
the  igth,  and  was  composed  of  the  following  regiments: 
The  First,  Fourth,  Sixth,  Ninth,  Nineteenth  and  Twen- 


June,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  189 

ty-Seventh  Tennessee,  which  were  among  the  oldest  reg- 
iments in  the  Confederate  service. 

When  the  truce  expired  a  soldier  stood  on  our  works 
and  fired  a  single  shot  in  the  air,  then  dropped  back  into 
the  trench.  This  was  the  signal  agreed  upon  to  end  the 
truce,  and  firing  was  at  once  resumed  along  the  entire 
line.  It  was,  indeed,  a  strange  sight.  During  the  truce 
all  was  peace  and  apparent  amity,  but  as  soon  as  the  last 
sad  service  the  living  can  render  to  the  dead  had  been 
performed,  both  sides  resumed  their  efforts  to  kill,  and 
maim,  and  cripple. 

Standing  midway  between  the  works  was  a  large  tree 
with  a  double  trunk,  which  was  used  by  us  as  an  outpost, 
two  or  three  men  being  stationed  behind  its  ample  body. 
In  broad  daylight  on  the  afternoon  of  the  3Oth  a  man  in 
Federal  uniform,  mess-pan  in  hand,  climbed  deliberately 
over  our  works  and  walked  forward  as  if  intent  upon 
joining  his  comrades  at  the  outpost.  But  instead  of 
stopping  there  he  passed  to  one  side  and  with  several 
bounds  leaped  the  rebel  works.  No  one  had  time  to 
realize  that  he  was  a  spy  until  his  perilous  journey  was 
completed,  and  he  landed  in  safety  among  his  friends. 
It  was  a  daring  feat,  but  it  may  well  be  doubted  if  the  in- 
formation gained  justified  the  risk  assumed. 

It  was  soon  evident  that  both  sides  improved  the 
opportunity  afforded  by  the  truce  to  plan  for  future  de- 
fense and  aggression.  On  the  night  after  the  truce  the 
enemy,  by  the  use  of  ropes,  threw  over  their  works  a  con- 
tinuous line  of  chevaux-de-frise,  in  front  of  the  Third 
brigade,  and  at  night  from  this  on  illuminated  the  space 
between  the  lines  with  fire-balls  of  cotton  soaked  in  tur- 
pentine or  tar.  On  our  side  it  was  determined  to  estab- 


190  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  June,  1«*. 

lish  an  advance  line  some  ten  yards  higher  on  the  hillside, 
and  by  daybreak  on  the  3Oth  this  work  was  completed. 
At  this  point  mining  was  determined  on,  and  with  such 
tools  as  were  available  the  work  began.  But  the  tools 
were  unsuitable ;  the  work  new  to  the  men,  and  our  prog- 
ress slow,  yet  by  persistent  effort  the  main  entrance  was 
opened  for  quite  a  distance.  But  fortunately  this  mine 
was  not  destined  to  be  sprung. 

Early  on  Sunday  morning,  July  3rd,  after  an  unusual 
period  of  quiet,  a  voice  from  the  front  called  out :  "Say, 
Yanks,  don't  shoot;  I  want  to  come  in;  they're  all  gone." 
Of  course  no  one  would  shoot  at  the  bearer  of  such  good 
news,  and  the  "Johnny"  quickly  crossed  over  the  lighted 
space.  The  retreat  of  the  enemy  was  not  entirely  unex- 
pected, and  after  a  hasty  examination  of  the  deserter,  a 
line  of  skirmishers  moved  forward  and  occupied  the 
silent  works.  The  line  advanced  with  caution  at  first, 
fearing  some  ruse;  but  the  enemy  had  indeed  gone,  and 
the  advance  reached  Marietta  about  daylight.  The  re- 
treat had  been  made  deliberately  and  without  the  loss  of 
material. 

The  loss  of  the  Third  brigade  in  this  assault  was  two 
commanders  and  four  hundred  and  seventeen  officers 
and  men  out  of  some  1,400  taken  into  the  action.  The 
loss  in  the  Second  brigade  was  three  hundred  and  ninety- 
four  officers  and  men — making  a  total  loss  in  the  Second 
division  of  eight  hundred  and  eleven  in  killed  and 
wounded.  The  loss  in  Newton's  division  numbered  six 
hundred  and  fifty-four  killed  and  wounded,  and  one  bri- 
gade commander,  General  C.  G.  Harker,  who  fell  mor- 
tally wounded. 

In  this  action  we  witnessed  for  the  first  time  the 


June,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  191 

wonderful  possibilities  of  the  repeating  rifle.  A  few  men 
in  the  Third  brigade  had  armed  themselves  at  their  own 
expense  with  the  Henry  rifle,  a  magazine  gun,  carrying 
sixteen  shots.  And  it  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  rapid, 
accurate  fire  from  these  guns  was  an  important  factor  in 
enabling  the  men  to  hold  and  fortify  a  line  so  close  to  the 
enemy's  main  line  of  works. 

Our  gallant  commander,  Colonel  McCook,  was  taken 
to  his  home  in  Steubenville,  Ohio,  where  he  died  on  the 
1 7th  of  July  at  the  early  age  of  thirty  years.  He  entered 
the  service  in  May,  1861,  as  captain  of  Company  H,  First 
Kansas  infantry.*  After  serving  as  staff  officer  of  divis- 
ion for  a  time  he  was  commissioned  colonel  and  led  the 
Fifty-second  Ohio  infantry  to  the  field.  At  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Third  brigade,  of  which  his  regiment  was  a 
part,  he  was  assigned  to  command  the  brigade,  which  he 
led  with  distinguished  skill  and  courage  for  two  years,  to 
finally  fall  at  its  head,  in  its  most  desperate  and  daring 
undertaking.  The  day  before  his  death,  this  former  law 
partner  of  General  Sherman  and  fellow-townsman  of 
Secretary  Stanton  received  from  the  latter  a  brevet  of 
brigadier  general.  This  tardy  and  miserly  recognition 
of  his  services  he  wrathfully  and  unceremoniously  re- 
jected. So  to  us,  who  knew  him  best  and  followed  him 
so  long,  he  will  always  remain  Colonel  McCook.** 

During  the  six  days'  fighting  at  Kennesaw  mountain 
the  Eighty-fifth  sustained  the  following 

CASUALTIES. 
FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

WOUNDED— Adjutant  Clark  N.  Andrus,  died  July  23rd,  and  Ser- 
geant Major  William  S.  Allen. 

*  Wilder's  Annals  of  Kansas,  page  277. 

**Captain  F.  B.  James,  of  the  52nd  Ohio,  in  a  paper  read  before 
the  Loyal  Legion  of  Ohio,  entitled,  "McCook's  Brigade  at  Kenne- 
saw." 


192  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  June,  1864. 

COMPANY  A. 

WOUNDED — Corporal  Calvin  W.  Boon,  James  M.  Bradburn,  Jr., 
David  Kratzer,  and  Henry  R.  Streeter. 

COMPANY  B. 

WOUNDED — Captain  James  R.  Griffith,  Sergeant  Thornton  S. 
Pierce,  Corporal  David  Sigley,  Simon  Burkholder,  Joseph  H. 
Fitch,  and  Alvro  C.  Mintonye. 

COMPANY  C. 

KILLED— Sergeant  John  H.  Duvall,  Sergeant  Henry  H.  Buck, 
Sergeant  James  Leeper,  James  L.  Burnett,  and  John  H.  Tomlin. 

WOUNDED — Corporal  Andrew  J.  Opdyke,  William  D.  Alkire, 
Jeremiah  Dietrich,  Daniel  Daugherty,  Green  B.  Lane,  George 
W.  Moslander,  William  H.  Neeley,  and  James  K.  Young. 

COMPANY  D. 

KILLED— Captain  Charles  H.  Chatfield. 

WOUNDED — Isaac  Layman,  Hugh  Morgan,  John  J.  Murphy,  Will- 
iam H.  Morgan,  Oliver  W.  Parks,  Nathaniel  S.  Rochester, 
William  Rhineders,  and  John  Scholes. 

COMPANY  E. 

KILLED— J.  C.  Miller,  and  George  Watterman. 
WOUNDED — Captain  Pleasant  S.  Scott,  John  H.  Arnold,  Andrew 
Robinson,  and  James  E.  Thomas. 

COMPANY  F. 

KILLED— D.  A.  Brandon,  Alexander  Hodge,  and  Matt.  Riley. 

WOUNDED — Captain  John  Kennedy,  James  F.  Burt,  and  Barn- 
hart  Noblack. 

COMPANY  G. 

KILLED — Sergeant  W.  Irving  Shannon,  Sergeant  Daniel  G.  Long- 
fellow, Berry  Prentice,  Horace  J.  Snodgrass,  James  Shields, 
Francis  M.  Severns,  and  Corporal  John  Shores. 

WOUNDED— Captain  Henry  S.  LaTourrette,  First  Lieutenant 
John  M.  Robertson,  Second  Lieutenant  D.  L.  Musselman,  Ser- 
geant Lewis  P.  Wright,  Corporal  Alexander  R.  Tidrick,  Silas 
Dodge,  and  Corporal  Peter  Rever,  who  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy  and  died  in  rebel  prison. 

COMPANY  H. 

KILLED— Sergeant  Eli  Shields,  Corporal  Elisha  J.  Elliott,  and 
John  M.  Saffer. 


June,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  193 

WOUNDED — Corporal  George  H.  Wetzel,  John  D.  Fenton,  John 
R.  Powell,  John  A.  Thompson,  William  Severns,  and  Frederick 
T.  Zellers,  who  fell  inside  the  enemy's  works  and  was  held  in 
reibel  prisons  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

COMPANY  I. 
KILLED— Austin  Walker. 
WOUNDED— Charles  G.  Matthews  and  John  Watson. 

COMPANY  K. 

KILLED — Corporal  James  Jimmison,  and  Conrad  Nuhn. 
WOUNDED — Corporal  George  Hetzeler,  George  Drake,  Henry  F. 
Molenbrink,  and  Jacob  H.  Prettyman. 

Note — Colonel  Dilworth  filed  with  his  official  report,  a  list  giv- 
ing the  names  of  the  killed  and  wounded  in  the  Eighty-fifth  in  the 
Battle  of  Kennesaw  Mountain,  but  this  list  has  been  lost,  and  the 
list  here  printed  probably  does  not  contain  all  the  names  of  the 
wounded.  But  in  presenting  the  above,  the  writer  believes  it  to  be 
as  near  complete  as  can  be  hoped  for  at  this  late  day. 


194  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  July,  1864. 

CHAPTER  XVI. 


Pursuit  of  the  rebel  army  began  early  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  3rd,  but  the  Second  division  did  not  move  until 
eight  o'clock.  So  the  men  improved  the  early  hours  of 
a  quiet  Sunday  in  examining  the  enemy's  abandoned 
works.  The  entrenched  line  was  found  very  strong  and 
admirably  constructed  for  defense,  with  traverses,  and 
lunettes  for  artillery  which  commanded  the  entire  front. 
On  the  narrow  field  between  the  lines  effects  of  the 
deadly  struggle  were  seen  on  every  hand.  A  tree  almost 
as  large  as  a  man's  body  was  girdled  except  some  three 
inches  in  width  and  smaller  ones  were  entirely  cut  off  by 
rifle  balls  about  six  feet  above  the  ground. 

The  division  moved  to  the  right  of  Marietta  on  by- 
ways, and  in  the  evening  the  First  brigade  closed  down 
on  the  enemy's  works  on  Nickajack  creek.  The  Eighty- 
fifth  camped  after  a  march  of  six  miles  in  a  pleasant,  well- 
shaded  grove,  where  we  remained  the  next  day.  This 
was  a  genuine  Fourth  of  July  in  its  noise,  but  the  firing 
was  of  shotted  cannon,  and  in  place  of  the  harmless  fire- 
cracker, was  heard  the  rattle  of  musketry  throughout  the 
day.  The  men  had  grown  thin  and  haggard  under  the 
strain  of  the  continuous  campaign,  and  very  many  then 
on  duty  were  really  fit  subjects  for  the  hospital.  No 
clothing  had  been  issued,  and  nearly  all  were  mud- 
stained  and  ragged.  But  all  were  confident,  determined, 
and  no  one  found  fault. 

On  the  morning  of  the  5th  the  enemy's  works  were 
again  found  deserted,  and  we  advanced  some  five  miles 
toward  the  railroad  bridge  over  the  Chattahoochee  river. 


j.ly,186t.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  195 

Here  the  division  was  formed  with  the  Second  and  Third 
brigades  in  front,  and  a  strong  line  of  skirmishers  from 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  drove  the 
enemy  in  confusion  to  his  main  line  of  works.  The  other 
regiments  of  the  brigade  followed  and  threw  up  works 
during  the  night.  At  this  place  the  brigade  was  formed 
in  single  line,  behind  strong  earthworks,  in  order  to  give 
ample  strength  to  flanking  columns ;  one  to  feign  on  the 
right,  while  the  other  should  effect  a  crossing  of  the  river 
on  the  left.  At  this  place  our  skitmish  line  ran  through 
open  fields,  while  that  of  the  enemy  was  on  much  higher 
ground  and  in  dense  timber.  The  men  established  a  line 
of  detached  rifle  pits,  each  large  enough  to  protect  six  or 
eight  men,  but  the  position  was  a  most  trying  one,  espe- 
cially during  the  day,  on  account  of  the  scorching  sun. 
At  all  times  the  enemy  from  higher  ground,  completely 
screened  by  thick  timber,  could  rake  the  line  as  well  as 
the  ground  in  the  rear,  with  a  deadly  fire  at  short  range. 

While  the  division  kept  up  a  sharp  skirmish  and 
heavy  artillery  fire  along  its  extended  front,  a  column  of 
cavalry  pushed  northeast  to  Roswell,  where  were  numer- 
ous cotton,  wool  and  paper  mills  engaged  in  manufactur- 
ing supplies  for  the  Confederate  armies.  These  were 
taken  and  destroyed.  On  the  8th  a  part  of  the  Army  of 
the  Ohio  effected  a  crossing  by  the  use  of  pontoon  boats 
near  the  mouth  of  Soap  creek.  This  force  was  quickly 
entrenched,  when  a  pontoon  bridge  was  laid,  and  soon  a 
large  part  of  Sherman's  army  was  wheeling  toward 
Atlanta.  This  successful  manoeuvre  turned  General 
Johnston's  right,  and  during  the  night  of  the  Qth  he  with- 
drew his  army  from  tne  north  bank  of  the  Chattahoo- 
chee.  The  forenoon  of  the  loth  was  exceedingly  hot 


196  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  juiy,  1864. 

and  sultry.  In  the  evening  a  sudden  and  terrific  thun- 
der storm  broke  over  the  camp.  The  lightning  played 
most  vividly  and  several  trees  were  struck  in  the  imme- 
diate vicinity,  two  men  being  killed  by  a  single  bolt  in  a 
regiment  near  by.  The  storm,  which  did  not  last  long, 
cleared  the  air,  but  the  men  were  badly  used  up  and  glad 
when  it  was  over.  We  remained  in  camp  near  the  rail- 
road bridge  for  several  days ;  a  limited  supply  of  much- 
needed  clothing  was  brought  up  and  issued,  and  there 
was  a  general  cleaning  up  of  arms  and  accoutrements. 

On  Sunday,  the  17th,  the  First  and  Second  brigades 
crossed  the  Chattahoochee  river  at  Pace's  ferry  and 
drove  the  enemy's  pickets  to  and  beyond  Nancy's  creek. 
On  the  1 8th  the  Third  brigade  crossed  the  river  before 
daylight  and,  taking  the  advance  of  the  division,  the 
skirmishers  from  the  Twenty-second  Indiana  drove  the 
enemy  to  Peach  Tree  creek,  near  Howell's  mill.  The 
Second  division  was  now  the  extreme  right  of  the  army, 
and  so  remained  throughout  the  battles  of  the  next  few 
days. 

The  enemy  destroyed  the  bridges  as  he  retired  be- 
yond Peach  Tree  creek,  and  the  forenoon  of  the  iQth  was 
spent  in  searching  for  a  place  where  that  stream  could  be 
crossed.  The  weather  was  very  warm,  and  the  brigade 
moved  slowly,  making  many  short  stops.  There  were 
occasional  shots,  and  rifle  balls  fell  about  or  whizzed 
harmlessly  overhead.  At  each  brief  halt  the  men  busied 
themselves  gathering  the  fresh  ripe  blackberries  that 
grew  in  great  abundance  by  the  roadside.  As  we 
neared  the  creek  General  Thomas,  General  Palmer  and 
General  Davis  were  seen  standing  near  the  line  of  march. 
The  presence  of  these  distinguished  officers  was  accepted 


July,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  197 

as  a  certain  indication  that  the  enterprise  the  command 
was  about  to  undertake  was  one  of  vital  importance.  As 
the  Eighty-fifth  passed  the  group,  a  well-spent  ball 
struck  the  boot  of  General  Davis,  making  his  foot  sting 
for  a  moment,  and  his  companions  rallied  him  on  getting 
the  first  hit. 

At  one  o'clock  a  foot-log  was  found  over  which  the 
troops  could  be  passed,  and  Major  J.  T.  Holmes,  in  com- 
mand of  five  companies  of  the  Fifty-second  Ohio,  crossed 
Peach  Tree  creek.  This  was  at  a  point  near  the  mouth 
of  Green  Bone  creek,  and  a  short  distance  beyond  the 
crossing  was  a  bluff  some  fifty  feet  in  height,  on  which 
the  enemy's  skirmish  line  rested.  Major  Holmes  de- 
ployed his  skirmishers  in  the  bushes  to  the  right  and 
down  the  stream,  and  as  soon  as  his  reserve  reached  the 
south  bank,  all  dashed  forward  with  a  shout  and  drove 
the  enemy  from  the  crest  of  the  bluff  and  some  four  hun- 
dred yards  beyond.  The  sharp,  continuous  firing  gave 
notice  that  there  was  hot  work  on  hand,  and  the  Eighty- 
fifth  was  hurried  to  the  support  of  the  Fifty-second. 
Crossing  a  stream  in  single  file  on  a  log  takes  time,  but  as 
all  realized  the  emergency  the  men  passed  rapidly  over ; 
ran  eagerly  up  the  bluff,  and  into  line  at  the  top.  In 
front  of  the  regiment  as  it  formed  on  the  crest,  lay  an 
open  field,  and  beyond  that  was  thick  timber.  By  the 
time  the  rear  files  of  the  Eighty-fifth  reached  the  regi- 
mental line  the  enemy  had  caught  his  wit  and  wind,  and, 
in  overwhelming  numbers,  was  making  a  return  charge 
on  the  Fifty-second.  It  was  the  supreme  moment — the 
crisis  of  the  day,  and  Major  Rider  gave  the  order  for  the 
Eighty-fifth  to  advance.  The  men  rushed  forward  under 
a  terrific  fire,  passed  through  the  open  field  on  the  double 


198  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  Juiy,  im. 

quick,  and  struck  the  advancing  enemy  at  the  edge  of  the 
woods.  This  brought  the  Eighty-fifth  in  line  on  the  left 
of  the  Fifty-second.  Two  small  regiments  were  now 
face  to  face  with  a  rebel  brigade  of  six  regiments,  and 
along  the  entire  line  the  firing  became  fierce  and  deadly. 
On  the  right  of  the  Eighty-fifth  it  was  a  desperate  hand- 
to-hand  conflict,  in  which  muskets  were  clubbed  and  the 
bayonet  was  freely  used.  While  engaged  in  this  deadly 
struggle  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  passed  beyond  the 
right  of  the  Fifty-second,  then  wheeling  to  the  right  it 
poured  a  wicked  fire  lengthwise  of  the  line.  The  ad- 
vanced position  of  the  two  regiments  was  clearly  unten- 
able, but  it  was  now  a  fight  for  time,  in  which  the  other 
regiments  of  the  brigade  might  make  the  crossing  and 
gain  the  crest  of  the  bluff.  No  command  was  given,  and 
if  given,  none  could  have  been  heard  above  the  infernal 
din  of  battle.  But  the  instinct  of  self-preservation  was 
strong  enough  to  tell  experienced  soldiers  what  to  do, 
and  when  they  saw  the  brigade  formed  .and  ready  to  re- 
ceive the  enemy  on  the  bluff,  the  movement  to  the  rear 
began  at  almost  the  same  moment  along  the  entire  line. 
There  was  no  panic — no  rout,  as  the  men  retired  by  the 
right  and  left  behind  the  brigade,  but  their  ranks  were 
sadly  thinned,  and  along  the  line  of  fierce  conflict  win- 
drows of  dead  were  afterward  found,  in  which  the  ming- 
ling of  the  blue  and  gray  attested  the  stubborn  nature  of 
the  fight.  When  darkness  ended  the  struggle  the  entire 
brigade  had  been  engaged.  But  we  held  the  ground, 
and  had  secured  for  Sherman's  army  a  safe  footing  on  the 
south  side  of  Peach  Tree  creek. 

After  dark  as  the  regiment  gathered  on  the  bank  of 
the  creek  there  was  many  a  hearty  handshake  as  com- 


July,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  199 

rades  greeted  those  whom  they  feared  had  been  killed  or 
captured,  and  many  anxious  inquiries  for  those  not  in 
line.  While  thus  engaged  Lieutenant  Musselman,  of 
Company  G,  and  others  ran  back  into  our  line  unhurt. 
At  the  end  of  the  charge  they  found  themselves  close 
under  the  guns  of  the  enemy,  and  under  fire  from  both 
friend  and  foe.  In  this  dilemma  they  dropped  to  the 
ground  and  remained  between  the  lines  until  darkness 
afforded  them  an  opportunity  to  escape  from  a  very  try- 
ing and  perilous  position.  Their  coming  was  a  delight- 
ful surprise,  and  produced  a  sensation  not  unlike  that 
which  the  returning  dead  might  be  expected  to  create. 

The  engagement  was  fought  out  by  the  Third  bri- 
gade alone,  while  the  First  and  Second,  with  the  batter- 
ies, were  massed  in  reserve  on  the  north  side  of  the  creek. 
General  Jefferson  C.  Davis,  commanding  the  division, 
was  greatly  pleased  with  the  success  gained,  and  in  his 
official  report  said :  "The  loss  was  heavy  on  both  sides 
considering  the  numbers  engaged,  and  the  day's  work 
was  exceedingly  creditable  to  both  Colonel  Dilworth  and 
his  command."*  Major  J.  T.  Holmes,  commanding  the 
Fifty-second  Ohio,  said:  "Without  the  Eighty-fifth 
Illinois,  the  Fifty-second  Ohio  would  all  have  been  killed 
or  captured,  and  that  movement  would  have  failed.  I 
mean  by  the  statement  to  say,  with  emphasis,  that  if  the 
part  taken  by  your  regiment  in  that  day's  work  had  been 
omitted,  the  crossing  would  have  ended  in  disaster  and 
failure."** 

During  the  night  earthworks  were  thrown  up  and 
the  ground  gained  south  of  the  creek  was  firmly  secured. 

*  Rebellion  Records,  Serial  No.  72,  page  635. 

**  Letter  from    Major  J.  T.  Holmes,  of    Columbus,  Ohio,  to  the 
writer,  January  20th,  1896. 


200  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  July,  1864. 

The  Second  brigade  built  a  bridge  that  night,  a  log 
house  near  by  furnishing  the  material,  and  early  next 
morning  the  entire  division  with  its  artillery  was  united 
on  the  south  side  of  the  stream.  While  engaged  in  build- 
ing the  bridge  some  of  the  men  observed  the  body  of  a 
beardless  boy  floating  in  the  creek.  He  had  been  shot 
through  the  body  and  fallen  unnoticed  by  his  comrades 
into  the  stream.  He  was  clothed  in  the  faded  blue  uni- 
form of  a  private  soldier  of  the  Union,  but  beyond  that 
nothing  could  be  found  to  identify  him  in  any  way.  So 
he  was  buried  in  a  nameless  grave,  hero  that  he  was,  to  lie 
among  the  unknown  dead,  while  the  only  report  that 
could  ever  reach  his  northern  friends  was  that  on  the 
1 9th  of  July,  1864,  he  was  numbered  with  the  missing. 

That  night  the  enemy  covered  his  front  with  a  line  of 
detached  works,  and  behind  each  stationed  a  group  of 
eight  or  ten  men.  Although  these  works  had  been 
hastily  constructed  of  fence  rails  and  but  lightly  covered 
with  earth,  they  afforded  ample  protection  against  mus- 
ketry, arid  being  within  short  range  the  enemy's  fire  was 
very  severe  for  a  time.  But  by  ten  o'clock  two  sections 
of  Gardner's  battery  were  brought  up  by  hand,  and  with 
the  aid  of  sharp-shooters  quickly  drove  the  enemy  from 
his  works.  In  this  action  there  were  many  fine  shots. 
After  obtaining  the  exact  range,  Captain  Gardner  never 
failed  to  plant  a  shell  in  one  of  these  detached  works,  and 
when  the  shell  burst  {hose  unhurt  ran  for  the  rear  in  the 
wildest  confusion.  But  the  accurate  aim  of  our  men 
allowed  but  few  of  the  enemy  to  escape. 

The  writer  is  indebted  to  Surgeon  Philip  L.  Dieffen- 
bacher  for  a  list  of  the  killed,  wounded  and  captured  in 
the  Eighty-fifth.  And  as  he  compiled  the  list  on  the 


JOSEPH    S.   BARWICK, 

CHAPLAIN*. 


201 


July,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  203 

field  at  Peach  Tree  creek,  it  is  undoubtedly  as  nearly  cor- 
rect as  such  lists  can  be  made : 

COMPANY  A. 

KILLED — Charles  W.  Reagan  and  Philip  Sanit. 

WOUNDED— John  F.  Anno,  William  Bortzfield,  John  Bortziield, 
Jr.,  and  First  Sergeant  John  K.  Milner. 

CAPTURED — First  Lieutenant  Daniel  Havens,  Sergeant  Josiah 
Stout,  Sergeant  William  McLaughlin,  Sergeant  Newton  King, 
Corporal  Alonzo  McCain,  Benjamin  E.  Jordan,  Dallas  A.  Trent 
and  David  Wood. 

COMPANY  B. 

KILLED — First  Sergeant  George  D.  Prior,  Corporal  John  John- 
ston, Corporal  Warren  Tippey,  David  Cornman,  Amos  Eveland, 
Bazil  Cozad  and  Charles  Spink. 

WOUNDED— First  Lieutenant  Albert  D.  Cadwallader,  right  arm 
amputated;  Sergeant  John  H.  Cleveland,  right  arm  amputated; 
Sergeant  Charles  T.  Kisler,  Sergeant  Thomas  Cluney,  Oliver  P. 
Behymer,  William  Buffalow,  William  D.  Holmes,  Corporal 
David  Sigley  and  Joshua  T.  Singletpn. 

CAPTURED— Corporal  David  S.igley,  William  Buffalow,  Jesse 
Bailor,  Charles  D.  Dair,  Stephen  H.  Nott,  John  H.  O'Leary, 
Joshua  T.  Singleton,  William  B.  Winchell  and  George  Winchell. 

COMPANY  C. 

WOUNDED— Edwin  M.  Hadsall,  Corporal  Andrew  McClarin, 
Aaron  Ritter,  Corporal  Thomas  Stagg,  Jeremiah  Wagoner  and 
Thomas  M.  Young. 

CAPTURED — Captain  George  A.  Blanchard,  First  Lieutenant 
James  M.  Hamilton,  First  Sergeant  John  Houseworth,  Sergeant 
George  Black,  Corporals  Andrew  McClarin,  Thomas  Stagg  and 
Jeremiah  Holley,  Corporal  William  D.  Allure,  Michael  Atchin- 
son,  David  Bradford,  James  M.  Gardner,  Louis  Ishmael,  George 
W.  Moslander,  John  W.  Mosier,  Sterling  Pelham,  Aaron  Ritter, 
Benjamin  F.  Scovil,  John  Stubblefield,  William  A.  Tyrrell  and 
Thomas  M.  Young. 

COMPANY  D. 

KILLED— Cadmus  Floro  and  James  H.  Welch. 

WOUNDED — Sergeant  Miles  McCabe,  Corporal  Joseph  B.  Conover 
and  Noah  Davis. 

CAPTURED — Corporal  Joseph  Conover,  lost  right    arm;   Joseph 
Larance  and  John  Sizelove. 
13 


204  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  Juiy,  1864. 

COMPANY  E. 

WOUNDED— First  Lieutenant  Hugh  A.  Trent,  First  Sergeant  A. 
J.  Taylor,  Color  Sergeant  William  F.  Hohamer,  Corporal  Bowl- 
ing Green,  Corporal  Ezekiel  Sample,  Corporal  James  N.  Sheets, 
John  H.  Arnold,  Richard  Griffin,  Franklin  F.  Scott,  James  T. 
Senter  and  James  E.  Thomas. 

CAPTURED— Color    Sergeant    William    F.    Hohamer,    Corporal 
James  N.  Sheets  and  William  Clarey. 
COMPANY  F. 
KILLED — Captain    John    Kennedy,    Corporal    Philip    Beck    and 

Maurice  Landerer. 

WOUNDED — Corporal  Nathan  Kellogg,  Color  Corporal  Edward 
Scattergood,  William  Dean,  Americus  Hinsey,  Reuben  Hamil- 
ton, B.  F.  Varnum  and  Jacob  Whittaker. 

CAPTURED — Corporal  Edward  Scattergood,  Corporal  Nathan 
Kellogg,  John  J.  Clark  and  Joel  F.  Terry. 

COMPANY  G. 
WOUNDED— Francis  M.  Plank. 

COMPANY  H. 
WOUNDED— Eli  Severns. 

The  losses  in  the  Third  brigade  were  as  follows: 

Twenty-second  Indiana  57 

Fifty-second  Ohio 83 

Eighty-fifth  Illinois  89 

Eighty-sixth  Illinois 10 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois  6 

Total  .,  ..245 


July,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  205 

CHAPTER  XVII. 


The  desperate  fighting  along  the  line  of  Peach  Tree 
creek  on  the  iQth  and  2Oth  was  the  result  of  an  elaborate 
plan  prepared  by  General  Johnston  before  he  retired  to 
the  south  side  of  the  Chattahoochee  river.  In  pursu- 
ance of  this  plan  he  selected  a  position  for  his  army  on 
the  high  ground  south  of  the  creek,  which  he  made  very 
strong  by  elaborate  earthworks.  From  these  earth- 
works he  proposed  to  direct  his  army  in  swift  attack 
against  the  different  columns  of  Sherman's  army  while 
in  the  act  of  crossing  v  broad  and  muddy  stream.  Know- 
ing the  difficult  and  densely  wooded  country  by  occupa- 
tion, and  well  aware  that  his  adversary  must  depend 
upon  imperfect  maps.  General  Johnston  relied  with  con- 
fidence on  the  chance  of  dealing  a  crushing  blow.  Then 
while  the  Federal  army  was  surprised  and  thrown  in  con- 
fusion by  this  unexpected  attack,  he  hoped  to  drive  it 
over  the  creek  and  throw  its  scattered  columns  into  the 
river  beyond.  It  was  a  bold  plan,  and  if  successfully 
executed  would  not  only  defeat,  'but  destroy  the  Union 
army,  while  if  it  failed  he  had,  as  he  thought,  a  place  of 
refuge  in  Atlanta.  He  believed  the  defenses  around  the 
"Gate  City,"  which  had  been  skillfully  planned  and 
strongly  constructed,  were  too  extensive  to  be  invested, 
and  too  strong  to  be  carried  by  storm. 

But  General  Johnston  was  not  to  be  permitted  to 
execute  the  plan  of  offense  his  genius  had  conceived.  By 
an  order  of  the  Confederate  President  he  was  relieved  on 
the  1 7th.  Since  that  date  a  new  commander,  General  J. 
B.  Hood,  had  directed  the  movements  of  the  rebel  army. 


206  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  Juiy,  1864. 

The  plan  devised  by  General  Johnston  was,  however, 
well  calculated  to  tempt  the  reckless  energies  of  a  com- 
mander as  daring  as  General  Hood,  and  he  proceeded 
to  its  execution  with  all  the  resources  at  his  command. 
In  his  initial  effort  General  Hood  was  favored  with  the 
most  fortunate  conditions,  and  his  attack  fell  on  the 
Army  of  the  Cumberland  while  it  was  far  from  the  sup- 
port of  either  the  Army  of  the  Ohio  or  the  Army  of  the 
Tennessee. 

The  movement  against  Atlanta  was  a  grand  right 
wheel,  with  the  Fourteenth  corps  as  a  pivot.  Early  on 
the  morning  of  the  2Oth  the  Fourth  and  Twentieth 
corps,  connected  with  the  Fourteenth  on  the  south  side 
of  the  creek,  having  met  but  little  opposition  in  cross- 
ing. About  ten  o'clock  skirmishers  advanced  along 
the  entire  front,  capturing  many  prisoners.  Many  of 
these  were  pretended  deserters,  who  reported  that  their 
army  had  fallen  back  to  the  fortifications  around  the  city. 
These  men  had  been  sent  into  our  lines  with  a  false  re- 
port, in  order  to  render  the  intended  surprise  complete, 
and  to  make  the  impending  rebel  assault  more  certain  of 
success.  But  it  is  very  difficult  to  surprise  and  put  to 
rout  a  veteran  army  of  fifty  thousand  men,  and  although 
its  left  flank  was  exposed,  and  the  rear  of  its  column  was 
still  crossing  the  creek,  it  was  ready  for  instant  battle. 

Early  in  the  afternoon  the  enemy  rushed  from  the 
woods,  behind  which  his  charging  columns  had  been 
massed,  and  assailed  the  left  flank  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland.  His  preparations  had  been  carefully  con- 
cealed and  his  assault  was  delivered  with  desperate,  per- 
sistent energy  under  the  most  favorable  conditions. 
Charge  after  charge  was  made  and  repulsed,  but  when 


July,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  207 

his  whole  line  came  into  action  and  his  full  strength  had 
been  developed,  his  charging  masses  only  reached  within 
cannon  range  of  Baird's  division,  next  on  our  left.  At 
last,  when  darkness  put  an  end  to  the  sanguinary  con- 
flict, the  enemy  retired  from  the  field.  In  this  day's  bat- 
tle the  enemy  lost  4,400  in  killed  and  wounded  and  1,600 
prisoners,  while  the  Union  loss  in  killed,  wounded,  and 
captured  numbered  but  1,707. 

All  accounts  agree  in  saying  this  was  intended  for  a 
decisive  engagement.  The  order  given  to  the  troops 
by  the  rebel  officers  directed  them  to  attack  whatever 
they  might  find  in  front  of  them,  and  urged  them  to  end 
the  campaign  in  triumph  there.  It  seemed  to  them  the 
opportune  moment,  one  for  which  they  had  long  waited, 
but  the  result  was  a  crushing  defeat  with  an  enormous 
loss.  And  at  no  time  did  the  blow  intended  to  initiate 
the  ruin  of  Sherman's  army  engage  more  than  one-third 
of  his  force.  But  the  advance  of  Sherman's  left  wing 
was  so  rapid  on  that  day,  that  the  rebel  commander 
found  just  cause  for  alarm  on  the  east  side  of  the  city. 
Indeed,  before  the  battle  ended  on  the  evening  of  the 
2Oth,  Hood  had  to  send  reinforcements  to  his  right  to 
keep  General  McPherson  out  of  Atlanta. 

On  the  morning  of  the  2oth,  the  One  Hundred  and 
Tenth  Illinois,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Topping  command- 
ing, joined  the  brigade  and  was  assigned  to  a  position  on 
the  right  of  the  line.  From  the  beginning  of  the  cam- 
paign this  regiment  had  been  detached  from  the  brigade 
for  train  guard  and  for  duty  at  division  headquarters. 
But  from  this  date  until  the  end  of  the  campaign  no  regi- 
ment was  absent  from  the  brigade. 

On  the  morning  of  the  22nd  it  was  found  that  the 


208  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  II^INOIS.  July,  1864. 

enemy  had  retired  from  our  front,  and  the  division 
moved  forward,  closing  down  on  the  enemy's  works  on 
the  west  side  of  Atlanta  about  noon.  The  division 
formed  a  line  parallel  with  the  road  from  Atlanta  to  Tur- 
ner's ferry,  and  just  beyond  Proctor's  creek,  fronting  to 
the  southwest.  The  left  of  the  division  was  within  a  mile 
and  a  half  of  the  city,  and  still  being  the  right  of  the 
whole  army,  the  position  was  made  secure  by  strong 
earthworks.  Our  batteries  were  now  within  easy  range 
of  the  city,  and  shells  could  be  seen  bursting  among  the 
buildings.  Soon  after  going  into  position  at  this  point, 
we  could  hear  the  roar  of  a  furious  battle  almost  opposite 
our  front,  but  beyond  the  city.  In  this  heavy  engage- 
ment the  Eighty-fifth  had  no  part.  It  transpired  that 
General  Hood  had  sent  a  part  of  his  army  far  out  to  his 
right  and  turned  the  Union  left,  and  we  lay  in  line  anx- 
iously awaiting  the  result  of  the  terrible  struggle,  in 
which  General  McPherson,  commanding  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee,  had  fallen  early.  Again  Hood  was  de- 
feated with  heavy  loss.  This  time  the  enemy  lost  8,000 
in  killed  and  wounded,  and  2,000  prisoners,  making  an 
aggregate  loss  of  10,000  men. 

The  total  loss  in  the  National  army  was  three 
thousand,  five  hundred  and  twenty-one  killed,  wounded 
and  missing.  At  first  fortune  favored  the  skillful  tac- 
tical combinations  of  the  enemy,  which  were  made  with 
care  and  executed  with  precision,  and  the  Union  army 
was  temporarily  thrown  into  confusion.  But  soon  the 
wavering  lines  were  strengthened,  and  after  a  desperate 
struggle  the  tide  was  turned  and  the  enemy  was  driven 
back  into  his  works  close  to  the  city.  This  second  de- 
feat of  a  long  cherished  plan  should  have  convinced  the 


July,  1864  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  209 

enemy  that  he  was  not  strong  enough  to  cope  with  our 
army  in  the  open  field.  But  General  Hood  had  been 
placed  in  command  by  the  Confederate  authorities,  be- 
cause of  his  reputation  for  reckless  courage,  and  before 
he  settled  down  to  the  defensive  tactics,  so  long  pursued 
by  his  predecessor,  he  led  his  army  to  another  bloody 
defeat. 

The  rebel  column  which  turned  the  Union  left  in  this 
battle  was  led  by  the  author  of  Hardee's  Tactics.  This 
work  was  used  by  both  sides  until  late  in  the  war.  The 
manoeuvre  by  which  General  Hardee  withdrew  his  com- 
mand from  the  front  of  our  right,  and  formed  it  in  posi- 
tion to  attack  the  rear  of  the  left  wing  of  the  Union 
army,  was  as  fine  as  any  of  the  flanking  operations  of 
either  side  throughout  the  war.  The  night  was  dark 
and  the  distance  his  troops  had  to  march  was  fully  fifteen 
miles,  and  the  heat  was  most  intense.  Yet  he  had  his  col- 
umn closed  up,  his  line  of  battle  formed,  and  had  begun 
his  attack  before  a  man  in  Sherman's  army  knew  of  his 
approach.  Certainly  there  was  no  more  skillful  move- 
ment, no  tactical  combination  executed  with  greater  pre- 
cision on  either  side,  in  the  long  months  of  the  Atlanta 
campaign. 

In  order  to  make  a  strong  right  flank  for  the  army, 
the  First  and  Second  brigades  of  the  Second  division 
were  refused  and  threw  up  very  strong  works,  while  the 
Third  brigade  was  placed  in  reserve  on  the  right  rear  of 
the  Proctor's  creek  line.  The  Eighty-fifth  remained  at 
this  point  in  comparative  quiet  for  several  days.  A  con- 
stant skirmish  was  kept  up  between  the  lines,  and  now 
and  then  a  huge  shell  from  the  siege  guns  in  the  enemy's 
works  would  pass  through  the  camp  or  tear  branches 


210  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS,  July,  1864. 

from  the  trees.  One  regiment  was  detailed  from  the 
brigade  to  picket  the  right  and  rear  each  day.  Black- 
berries were  found  in  great  profusion,  growing  wild  in 
the  woods.  These,  when  stewed  with  our  hard  bread, 
made  a  somewhat  novel  but  very  palatable  dish.  But 
the  great  number  of  men,  all  ravenously  hungry  for  fruit 
or  berries  of  any  kind,  soon  exhausted  the  supply,  and 
men  wandered  in  search  of  berries  too  far  from  camp  for 
safety.  Some  such  paid  the  penalty  by  serving  a  term  in 
the  prison  pen  at  Andersonville,  where  the  living  was 
much  worse  than  with  our  army. 

General  Sherman's  purpose  in  moving  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee  upon  Atlanta  from  the  east  was  to  so 
thoroughly  destroy  the  Augusta  railroad  as  lo  prevent 
its  use  by  the  enemy  during  his  operations  for  the  cap- 
ture of  the  city.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  the  Georgia 
railroad  had  been  destroyed  far  enough  east  to  prevent 
its  use,  and  his  own  line  of  supplies  repaired,  he  began 
to  thrust  his  right  flank  toward  the  railroads  leading 
south  to  Macon  and  southwest  to  Montgomery.  The 
enemy  was  now  wholly  dependent  upon  the  two  last 
named  roads  for  his  supplies,  and  when  the  Union  army 
should  be  placed  securely  upon  them,  the  enemy  must 
retire  or  surrender. 

Wednesday,  the  27th,  the  railway  from  Chattanooga 
was  in  running  order  to  the  camps  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland,  the  high  bridge  over  the  Chattahoochee 
having  been  rebuilt  in  six  days.  General  Sherman  was 
now  ready  for  a  new  movement  of  his  infantry  by  the 
right  flank,  and  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee  began  to 
move  by  successive  corps  from  the  extreme  left  to  the 
extreme  right.  By  the  next  morning  that  army  occu- 


July,  18M.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  211 

pied  a  position  facing  the  city  from  the  west  on  a  pro- 
longation of  the  general  line  of  the  Army  of  the  Cum- 
berland. This  brought  the  left  of  the  Sixteenth  corps 
in  front  of  the  Second  division,  which  had  inclined 
sharply  to  the  rear. 

About  nine  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  28th  the 
skirmish  fire  began  to  warm  up,  and  we  observed  signs 
of  approaching  battle.  But  to  the  surprise  of  all  the 
Second  division  moved  away  from  the  front  and 
marched  at  a  rapid  pace  to  Turner's  ferry.  From  there 
it  moved  on  a  road  leading  to  East  Point  on  the  Macon 
railroad.  On  this  woods  road  the  advance  soon  en- 
countered the  enemy,  and  heavy  skirmishing  began. 
From  one  position  the  enemy  was  driven,  only  to  be 
found  in  another,  until  late  in  the  afternoon.  For  sev- 
eral hours  we  could  hear  the  roar  of  battle  in  the  direc- 
tion from  which  we  had  moved  in  the  morning,  but 
about  the  time  the  noise  of  battle  ceased  the  enemy  dis- 
appeared from  our  front,  and  the  command  moved  in  the 
direction  of  our  former  camp.  During  the  day  the  heat 
was  excessive ;  the  night  was  very  dark ;  we  got  tangled 
up  in  a  swamp,  where  the  marching  was  of  the  worst,  and 
finally  camped  at  midnight  on  the  edge  of  the  battlefield 
of  Ezra  Church.  Some  one  had  blundered.  The  men 
were  mad,  tired  and  hungry,  and  they  came  straggling 
in,  making  the  night  air  streaked  with  the  most  lurid 
profanity.  They  did  not  know  who  had  caused  the 
eccentric  movement  of  the  day,  nor  on  whom  to  fix  their 
curse.  So  they  consigned  every  one  from  the  com- 
manding general  down  who  might  be  suspected  of  hav- 
ing any  connection  with  that  day's  march,  either  direct 
or  remote,  to  the  sulphurous  flames  of  a  Hadean  future, 


212  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  July,  1864. 

together  with   their  heirs,   administrators   and   assigns 
forever. 

Whoever  wrote  the  order  should  have  written 
"toward"  Turner's  ferry,  instead  of  which  he  wrote  "to" 
Turner's  ferry.*  In  obedience  to  the  express  terms  of 
the  order  the  division  was  marched  to  the  ferry,  several 
miles  too  far  to  the  rear  to  permit  it  to  join  General 
Howard's  right  in  time  to  take  part  in  the  battle  at  Ezra 
Church.  The  mistake  was  in  the  order,  and  no  blame 
could  be  attached  to  the  division  commander  under 
whose  direction  it  was  executed. 

The  next  morning  the  battlefield  around  Ezra 
Church  presented  a  sickening  sight.  Almost  seven  hun- 
dred dead  Confederates  were  scattered  over  the  field  in 
front  of  the  Fifteenth  corps.  The  ground  occupied 
during  the  battle  by  that  corps  was  a  high  ridge  and  the 
sloping  ground  in  its  front  was  dotted  over  with  open 
fields.  As  the  charging  columns  of  the  enemy  ad- 
vanced they  met  a  murderous,  well-directed  fire  which 
no  troops  could  stand.  In  conversation  with  the  men 
who  bore  the  brunt  of  the  fight  on  this  line,  they  told  the 
writer  "That  to  repulse  the  enemy  was  as  easy  as  lying ; 
that  each  attack  was  less  vigorous  than  the  one  before  it, 
and  that  in  the  last  attack  officers  were  seen  in  front  of 
their  commands  urging  troops  to  advance  that  would  no 
longer  follow  them.1'  In  this  the  last  of  the  desperate 


*  July28th,1864. 

Major  General  George  H.  Thomas. 

Order  General  Davis  to  move  to  Turner's  ferry,  and  then  by  a 
road  leading  toward  East  Point,  to  feel  forward  for  Howard's 
right,  back  into  some  known  point  of  Turner's  ferry.  I  will  be 
over  on  that  flank  all  day  and  await  to  reach  out  as  far  as  possible. 

W.  T.  SHERMAN,  Major-General. 

—Rebellion  Records,  No.  72,  page  650. 


August,  186+.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  213 

assaults  of  the  new  commander  of  the  rebel  army,  he  lost 
in  killed,  wounded  and  missing  fully  five  thousand  men. 

General  Hood  tried  the  bold  offensive  on  three  sep- 
arate occasions  with  the  energy  born  of  despair.  The 
loss  of  more  than  twenty  thousand  men  in  but  little  more 
than  a  week  was  looked  upon  as  a  useless  sacrifice  by  the 
rank  and  file  of  the  Confederate  army.  These  bloody 
defeats  coming  in  quick  succession  could  but  have  a  dis- 
couraging effect  on  the  bravest  men.  It  was  the  camp 
talk  at  the  time,  that  in  the  chaffing  between  the  pickets, 
the  rebel  soldier  in  answer  to  the  question,  "Well, 
Johnny,  how  many  of  you  are  left?"  replied,  "Oh!  about 
enough  for  another  killing."  This  was  a  severe  judg- 
ment on  the  reckless  efforts  of  their  new  commander  and 
especially  severe  when  coming  from  men  whose  fighting 
qualities  were  unexcelled. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  29th  the  division  moved  into 
position  on  the  right  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  and 
for  the  next  few  days  our  duties  were  various.  We 
entrenched  several  lines  and  took  ground  to  the  right  at 
each  change  of  position.  On  August  4th  the  entire 
division  advanced  some  three  miles  to  the  right  and 
front,  going  into  position  that  evening  on  Utoy  creek, 
the  Third  brigade  connecting  with  General  Baird  on  the 
left.  This  day  had  been  set  apart  by  the  President  as  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer,  but  we  ate  all  we  could  get  and 
had  our  usual  daily  controversy  with  the  enemy.  That 
night  the  Eighty-fifth  went  on  picket. 

At  daylight  Thursday,  the  5th,  the  advance  began 
with  the  Eighty-fifth  on  the  skirmish  line.  Soon  the 
enemy  was  encountered  in  the  heavy  timber  and  thick 
underbrush,  and  the  fight  was  on.  After  driving  the 


214  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          August,  1864. 

enemy  a  mile  or  more  and  capturing  a  number  of  pris- 
oners, we  ran  up  against  his  main  line  near  the  Sandtown 
road.  The  enemy  opened  from  three  batteries  on  our 
right,  left  and  front.  To  this  heavy  concentrated  fire  we 
could  make  no  successul  reply,  as  the  dense  woods 
through  which  we  had  moved  prevented  our  batteries 
from  following,  and  for  several  hours  we  were  subjected 
to  a  most  furious  shelling.  Unable  to  return  the  enemy's 
artillery  fire  we  had  to  lie  down  and  take  it,  trusting  to 
luck  and  such  scant,  uncertain  protection  as  the  timber 
afforded.  The  shot  and  shell  cut  the  tops  out  of  some 
trees  and  tore  great  branches  from  others,  which  fell 
around  and  among  us,  adding  additional  terror  to  the 
bursting  shells.  However,  toward  evening  the  enemy 
seemed  to  realize  that  we  had  come  to  stay ;  his  fire  slack- 
ened and  finally  ceased,  but  it  had  been  a  day  of  great 
peril. 

During  the  fight  Lewis  Dial,  of  Company  H,  re- 
ceived a  gunshot  wound,  the  ball  entering  below  the  left 
shoulder  blade,  and  passed  entirely  through  his  body. 
The  writer  saw  and  talked  with  him  a  few  minutes  after 
he  was  wounded,  and  found  him  full  of  grit  and  hopeful 
of  a  speedy  recovery.  But  his  wound,  like  that  of  so 
many  others,  disabled  him  for  life. 

Sunday,  the  7th,  the  division  advanced  by  a  left 
wheel,  using  the  Third  brigade  as  a  pivot,  until  the  com- 
mand faced  northeast.  All  day  long  the  advance  was 
stubbornly  contested  by  infantry  and  artillery,  but  after 
a  noisy  battle  the  brigade  took  possession  of  the  Sand- 
town  road,  and  entrenched  a  strong  line  across  it.  In 
the  sharp  fighting  of  the  day  the  brigade  sustained  a  loss 
of  forty-two  in  killed  and  wounded.  Among  the 


August,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  215 

wounded  was  Frank  Shelly,  of  Company  H,  who  re- 
ceived a  severe  wound  in  the  shoulder. 

During  the  operations  against  Atlanta  there  was 
much  severe  fighting,  and  a  constant  skirmish  at  short 
range  was  maintained  at  all  times.  The  danger  was 
constant,  as  bullets  and  shells  passed  through  or  over 
the  camp  at  all  hours,  and  more  than  once  men  were 
killed  or  wounded  while  asleep,  close  beside  the  breast- 
works. The  skirmishers  had  learned  how  to  protect 
themselves,  and  casualties  among  them  were  not  very 
numerous. 

In  the  hope  of  overlapping  the  rebel  line  the  divis- 
ion was  frequently  moved  to  the  right,  and  the  line  ex- 
tended to  the  last  degree.  In  one  of  these  changes  the 
Eighty-fifth  moved  into  a  line  of  works  built  by  another 
command.  These  works  were  exposed  to  a  fire  at  short 
range  from  the  enemy,  who  were  concealed  by  a  thick 
curtain  of  timber.  Before  the  men  became  familiar  with 
the  situation,  David  Taylor,  of  Company  G,  received  a 
shot  in  the  face.  The  ball  made  an  ugly  wound,  but  he 
soon  recovered  and  returned  to  duty. 

The  railroads  from  Atlanta  to  Montgomery,  Ala., 
and  to  Macon,  Ga.,  run  out  over  a  single  track  to  the 
southwest,  a  distance  of  eight  miles,  to  East  Point,  where 
they  separate,  the  former  continuing  its  course  nearly 
parallel  with  the  Chattahoochee  river,  and  the  latter 
turning  away  at  a  right  angle  to  the  southeast.  During 
the  night  of  the  iQth,  the  First  and  Third  brigades  re- 
tired, leaving  the  Second  brigade  to  occupy  the  space 
heretofore  held  by  the  entire  division.  The  next  morn- 
ing our  two  brigades  were  reinforced  by  three  brigades 
from  the  First  and  Third  divisions  of  our  corps,  forming 


216  HISTORY  OP  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          August,  law. 

a  column  of  five  brigades,  and  at  daylight  we  moved 
toward  Red  Oak,  the  first  station  beyond  East  Point,  on 
the  Montgomery  railroad.  The  Third  brigade  had  the 
advance,  with  the  Twenty-second  Indiana  as  skirmishers. 
The  fact  that  General  Thomas  went  with  the  column  in- 
dicated the  importance  of  the  movement.  We  reached 
the  railroad  at  noon;  destroyed  some  of  the  track  and 
telegraph  line ;  found  the  enemy  in  force  in  front  of  East 
Point,  and  returned  to  our  former  position,  having 
marched  twenty  miles.  During  the  day  there  was  a  ter- 
-rifiic  thunder  storm,  in  which  the  lightning  played  most 
vividly,  and  the  rain  fell  in  torrents. 

An  incident  occurred  during  the  day — a  capture  and 
a  rescue — which  illustrates  the  danger  attending  ma- 
noeuvres in  the  presence  of  an  active  and  vigilant  foe, 
and  the  courage  and  prompt  action  of  a  soldier  of  the 
Eighty-fifth.  When  the  brigade  moved  in  the  morning 
Captain  J.  L.  Burkhalter,  of  the  Eighty-sixth  Illinois, 
assistant  inspector  general  on  the  brigade  staff,  was  left 
in  charge  of  the  lines  around  the  camp.  After  making 
the  rounds  and  satisfying  himself  that  proper  arrange- 
ments had  been  made  for  the  day,  he  could  not  content 
himself  in  idleness,  snd  mounting  his  horse,  sought  to 
overtake  the  expedition.  This  was  in  disobedience  of 
orders,  but  being  neither  lazy  nor  timid,  he  wanted  to  see 
and  have  a  part  in  all  that  was  going  on.  After  riding 
several  miles  beyond  the  outposts,  the  heavy  storm  men- 
tioned above  entirely  obliterated  the  trail  of  the  column. 
This  was  unfortunate,  and  for  some  distance  he  traveled 
in  doubt,  but  believing  that  he  knew  the  direction  and 
destination  of  the  command,  he  proceeded  until  suddenly 
he  heard  the  sharp  "click,"  "click"  of  the  cocking  of  a 


August,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  217 

musket,  and  "Surrender,  you  Yankee  son  of  a  ." 

His  horse  stopped  as  a  rebel  stepped  from  behind  a  large 
tree,  and  with  a  musket  at  his  breast,  Captain  Burkhalter 
surrendered  as  gracefully  as  possible  under  such  embar- 
rassing surroundings.  The  rebel  at  once  demanded  his 
watch  and  money,  but  when  the  captive  moved  forward 
to  hand  them  over,  he  was  promptly  halted  and  ordered 
to  lay  them  on  the  ground.  When  this  order  had  been 
complied  with,  the  prisoner  was  ordered  to  one  side 
while  the  booty  was  secured  by  his  captor.  Then  the 
prisoner  was  ordered  to  mount  and  ride  in  front,  neither 
too  fast  nor  too  slow,  toward  the  lines  of  the  enemy.  All 
the  time  the  rebel,  who  was  on  foot,  covered  the  prisoner 
with  his  gun  cocked  and  at  the  ready.  They  had  pro- 
ceeded but  a  short  distance  in  this  way  when  the  rebel 
was  himself  surprised  and  captured,  and  his  prisoner  res- 
cued in  a  manner  as  gratifying  as  it  was  unexpected  to 
the  captain. 

When  the  object  of  the  expedition  had  been  accom- 
plished, by  cutting  the  telegraph  line  and  destroying  the 
railroad  for  some  distance  near  Red  Oak  station,  Gen- 
eral Morgan  wrote  a  brief  report  of  his  success.  This 
dispatch  was  handed  to  Henry  C.  Swisher.  of  Company 
H,  of  the  Eighty-fifth,  then  an  orderly  at  brigade  head- 
quarters, with  orders  to  report  to  General  Davis  at  divis- 
ion headquarters.  By  the  merest  accident  the  route 
Swisher  took  on  his  return  to  camp  crossed  the  road  on 
which  the  rebel  was  marching  with  his  captive.  When 
the  rebel  saw  Swisher  he  ordered  him  to  halt,  but 
Swisher  kept  riding  on  until  he  came  within  reach,  when 
he  seized  the  rebel's  gun,  and  as  he  pushed  it  to  one  side 
the  rebel  fired,  and  started  on  the  run.  But  Swisher, 


218  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          August,  18W. 

after  vainly  trying  to  fire  his  revolver  at  the  fleeing  fugi- 
tive, rode  him  down,  and  turned  him  over  to  Captain 
Burkhalter,  who,  with  the  prisoner,  soon  after  reached 
the  head  of  the  returning  column. 

Swisher  affirms  that  he  is  not  in  the  least  supersti- 
tious, still  he  admits  that  his  revolver  acted  strangely  on 
that  occasion.  It  failed  him  utterly  in  every  effort  to  fire 
while  aimed  at  the  rebel ;  this  had  never  happened  before, 
and  when  a  few  minutes  after  leaving  the  scene  of  his 
adventure  he  tried  it  at  a  tree,  his  pistol  responded  as 
promptly  as  ever  before.  An  example,  perhaps,  of  the 
perverseness  of  things. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


On  the  22nd  General  Jefferson  C.  Davis  was  assigned 
to  the  command  of  the  Fourteenth  corps  and  General 
James  D.  Morgan  was  assigned  to  the  command  of  the 
Second  division.  Both  were  promoted  for  meritorious 
conduct,  and  their  advancement  was  alike  satisfactory  to 
officers  and  men.  General  Morgan  had  been  an  officer 
in  the  War  with  Mexico,  and  had  entered  the  service  in 
1 86 1,  as  colonel  of  the  Tenth  Illinois.  He  proved  to  be 
an  able  and  worthy  division  commander,  and  held  the 
position  until  the  close  of  the  war. 

It  appears  that  General  Sherman  thought  it  impos- 
sible for  the  enemy  to  extend  his  line  far  enough  to  pro- 
tect the  railway  junction  at  East  Point.  But  General 
Morgan's  expedition  found  the  enemy  in  force  at  that 
place  on  the  2Oth,  and  it  was  finally  found  that  the 
enemy's  line,well  fortified  and  firmly  held,  extended  from 


A.  D.   CADWALLADKR, 

LIEUTENANT  COMPANY  B. 


219 


Of  THE 


August,  MM.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  221 

the  Decatur  road  on  the  east  of  Atlanta  to  East  Point,  a 
distance  of  ful»y  fifteen  miles.  It  soon  became  appar- 
ent that  a  change  of  plans  was  to  be  made  by  the  com- 
manding general,  but  what  the  movement  contemplated 
could  be  no  one  assumed  to  know.  The  sick  and  those 
not  able  to  mako  a  long  and  rapid  march  were  sent  to  the 
rear,  and  an  air  of  mystery  enveloped  all  in  authority. 
All  efforts  to  take  Atlanta  or  to  reach  and  occupy  the 
Macon  railroad  had  failed,  but  soldiers  and  officers  felt 
no  fear  that  the  attempt  was  to  be  abandoned. 

Unable  to  reach  the  left  flank  of  the  rebel  army  and 
maintain  his  line  of  communications,  General  Sherman 
decided  to  throw  his  army  upon  the  Macon  railroad. 
The  Twentieth  cores,  with  the  surplus  trains  of  the  army, 
were  placed  in  an  entrenched  camp  at  the  Chattahoochee 
river,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  26th  the  grand  move- 
ment to  the  rear  r>f  Atlanta  began.  The  Fourteenth 
corps  held  on  to  the  Utoy  creek  line  until  all  the  other 
corps  passed  to  its  rear  and  on  toward  the  coveted  rail- 
road. At  three  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  27th  the 
Second  division  retired  from  the  line  at  Willis  Mills  on 
Utoy  creek,  and  marched  some  two  miles  southwest, 
where  it  was  massed,  and  the  Eighty-fifth  was  sent  to  the 
picket  line.  In  the  afternoon  the  enemy's  pickets  came 
in  sight,  but  as  they  maintained  an  attitude  of  observa- 
tion at  a  safe  distance  they  were  not  molested.  The  next 
morning  we  moved  to  Mount  Gilead  church,  where  we 
passed  the  Fourth  corps,  and  the  division  again  became 
the  right  flank  of  the  entire  army.  The  enemy  was  found 
on  the  south  side  of  Camp  creek,  but  he  was  quickly  dis- 
persed by  the  skirmishers  of  the  Second  brigade.  A 
bridge  was  built,  over  which  we  crossed,  and  the  division 

14 


222  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.     September,  1864. 

arrived  on  the  Montgomery  railroad,  one-half  mile  east 
of  Red  Oak,  that  evening.  During  the  2Qth  the  com- 
mand was  engaged  in  destroying  the  railroad,  and  on  the 
next  morning  we  marched  to  Shoal  Creek  church,  where 
we  rested  for  several  hours,  the  division  being  massed  as 
if  an  attack  was  anticipated.  In  the  afternoon  the  com- 
mand moved  to  within  six  miles  of  Jonesboro,  on  the 
Macon  railroad,  and  camped  for  the  night. 

Orders  were  issued  to  be  ready  to  march  at  daylight 
on  the  3ist,  but  no  movement  was  made  until  afternoon. 
About  three  o'clock  the  noise  of  battle  was  heard  in  the 
direction  of  Jonesboro,  and  the  First  and  Third  brigades 
moved  rapidly  in  the  direction  of  the  fighting.  But  the 
firing  soon  ceased,  and  the  division  camped  at  Renfroes 
cross  roads.  The  enemy  had  been  found  in  strong  force 
at  Jonesboro,  a  small  town  on  the  Macon  railroad, 
twenty-two  miles  south  of  Atlanta,  behind  heavy  earth- 
works. West  of  the  town  his  line  ran  nearly  north  and 
south,  but  north  of  the  village  it  made  an  abrupt  turn, 
ran  east  to  the  railroad,  and  beyond  that  extended  some 
distance  to  the  southeast.  His  entire  line  was  well  for- 
tified with  artillery  at  the  angles,  in  position  to  sweep  his 
front,  making  a  very  difficult  line  to  carry  by  direct  as- 
sault. During  the  afternoon  the  Army  of  the  Tennes- 
see had  closed  down  on  the  enemy  from  the  west,  devel- 
oped his  line  to  the  angle  north  of  the  town  and  en- 
trenched a  position  facing  that  of  the  enemy. 

On  Thursday  morning,  September  ist,  the  Four- 
teenth army  corps  wheeled  to  the  right,  using  our  divis- 
ion as  a  pivot,  with  the  intention  of  storming  the  rebel 
right.  The  Second  division  was  to  keep  in  touch  with 
the  left  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  About  noon  the 


September,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  223 

movement  brought  the  corps  in  line  parallel  to  the  ene- 
my's works  north  of  the  town,  and  it  was  formed  into  an 
assaulting  column  in  an  old  open  cotton  field.  As  we 
emerged  from  the  woods  just  beyond  Flint  river  a  shell 
from  a  rebel  battery  revealed  to  us  the  position  of  the 
enemy's  line.  The  first  shot  was  succeeded  by  others  in 
quick  succession,  and  as  our  column  formed  in  full  view 
it  made  an  attractive  mark  for  the  rebel  gunners.  Their 
first  shots  passed  over  our  heads  or  struck  the  ground  in 
front,  but  they  soon  got  the  range  and  their  shells  burst 
around  and  among  us  at  a  lively  rate.  Our  division  was 
formed  with  the  Second  and  Third  brigades  in  front, 
each  in  two  lines,  with  the  batteries  in  the  interval  be- 
tween the  brigades,  while  the  First  brigade  was  held  in 
reserve.  The  Third  brigade  had  the  right  of  the  line  and 
was  formed  in  the  following  order:  First  line,  Twenty- 
second  Indiana  on  the  right,  the  Fifty-second  Ohio  on 
the  left,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois 
in  the  center,  the  Eighty-fifth,  Eighty-sixth  and  One 
Hundred  and  Tenth  Illinois  forming  the  second  line. 

From  our  line  it  was  about  one  thousand  yards  to 
the  rebel  batteries  in  the  angle,  with  a  swamp  and  sev- 
eral deep  ditches  intervening.  As  soon  as  our  batteries 
could  get  into  position  they  opened  fire  and  a  furious 
cannonade  ensued.  To  the  left  as  far  as  we  could  see 
brigades  were  massed  for  a  charge,  with  batteries  thun- 
dering from  the  intervals  between  them,  flags  waving 
and  flashing  in  the  sunlight,  staff  officers  dashing  here 
and  there,  all  made  a  martial  scene  grand  and  inspiring 
in  the  highest  degree.  At  the  command  the  men  moved 
forward  with  bayonets  fixed  and  their  empty  guns  at  the 
right  shoulder-shift. 


224  .       HISTORY  OF  THE)  85TH  ILLINOIS.     September,  1864. 

The  swamp  and  ditches  encountered  were  .so  difficult 
to  cross  that  the  Second  and  Third  brigades  had  to  move 
by  the  right  flank  some  distance,  and  then  cross  in  regi- 
mental column.  The  crossing  was  accomplished  as  rap- 
idly as  possible,  and  the  First  brigade  was  brought  up 
and  placed  in  the  front  line  on  the  left  of  the  division. 
All  this  time  the  troops  were  under  fire  from  the  rebel 
batteries,  and  many  were  killed  and  wounded  by  shells. 
The  assaulting  column  was  reformed  on  the  slope  of  a 
hill  beyond  the  swamp,  within  about  two  hundred  yards 
of  the  enemy's  position.  Here  the  ground  offered  a 
slight  protection,  a  brief  halt  was  made,  and  the  line  rec- 
tified. Soon  the  bugles  sounded  the  charge,  and  the 
whole  line  rushed  forward.  The  enemy,  self-confident 
and  exultant  at  our  audacity  in  attacking  lines  so  strong, 
held  his  musketry  fire  until  we  were  in  short  range,  when 
his  first  volley  killed  and  wounded  at  least  one-half  the 
men  lost  in  the  assault.  The  fight  was  short  and  bloody, 
but  his  entire  line  of  works  was  carried.  Eight  hundred 
and  sixty-five  officers  and  men,  including  one  brigade 
commander,  were  captured  in  the  works.  About  one 
thousand  more  were  picked  up  during  the  night  which 
should  be  credited  to  the  assault.  The  Second  division 
captured  two  four-gun  batteries,  one  thousand  stand  of 
small  arms  and  six  battle  flags.  These  trophies  were 
won  at  the  point  of  the  sword  and  bayonet,  under  a  furi- 
ous fire  of  musketry,  on  ground  swept  by  grape  and  can- 
nister,  from  men  whose  fighting  qualities  have  never 
been  excelled,  posted  behind  breast-works  as  strong  as 
men  long  trained  in  the  art  of  constructing  defensive 
works  could  make  them. 

While  gallantly  leading  the  brigade  near  the  enemy's 


September,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  225 

works  Colonel  Dilworth  received  a  severe  wound,  a 
musket  ball  passing  through  his  neck,  and  he  was  carried 
from  the  field.  Lieutenant  Colonel  J.  W.  Langley,  of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois,  being  next 
in  rank,  assumed  command  of  the  brigade.  The  Eighty- 
fifth  was  now  on  the  right  of  the  front  line,  and  under  a 
heavy  fire  from  a  force  seeking  to  penetrate  between  our 
right  and  the  left  of  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  Here 
Major  Robert  G.  Rider,  commanding  the  Eighty-fifth, 
received  a  gunshot  wound  in  the  head  .and  the  command 
of  the  regiment  devolved  upon  Captain  James  R.  Grif- 
fith, of  Company  B.  Other  regiments  were  brought  up 
in  line  with  the  Eighty-fifth,  and  heavy  firing  was  kept 
up  until  long  after  dark,  checking  the  advance  of  the 
enemy,  who  was  then  no  doubt  preparing  to  retreat. 

The  assault  was  the  only  entirely  successful  one  of 
the  campaign,  and  decided  the  fate  of  Atlanta.  The 
troops  slept  on  their  arms,  and  were  startled  during  the 
night  by  what  appeared  to  be  terrific  artillery  firing  in 
the  direction  of  Atlanta.  All  supposed  there  had  been  a 
night  assault  by  the  Twentieth  corps,  but  w^e  learned 
next  day  that  the  noise  proceeded  from  the  explosion  of 
ammunition,  the  rear  guard  of  the  enemy  having  de- 
stroyed his  abandoned  ordnance  stores  as  his  army 
retreated  from  the  city.  The  Twentieth  corps  moved 
forward  at  daylight,  occupying  the  city  and  taking 
charge  of  the  property  not  yet  destroyed.  The  morn- 
ing of  the  2nd  found  nothing  in  our  front  save  the  wreck 
of  a  defeated  enemy,  who  had  retreated  during  the  night, 
leaving  his  dead  unburied  and  his  wounded  uncared  for. 

It  is  the  most  trying  moment  in  the  experience  of  a 
soldier,  when  a  charging  column  is  preparing  for  the 


226  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.     September,  1864. 

final  dash  against  the  enemy's  works.  The  pressure  on 
brain  and  nerve  is  intense,  and  under  the  strain  some 
become  panic  stricken,  while  others  perform  the  most 
valorous  deeds.  Just  as  the  line  was  being  adjusted  for 
the  supreme  effort  three  men  broke  from  the  ranks  of  a 
certain  regiment  and  ran  back  into  the  fields.  While 
running  up  the  side  of  a  hill  seemingly  beyond  the 
danger  Hne  an  avenging  Confederate  shell  passed  over 
the  heads  of  hundreds  at  the  front  and,  as  if  directed  by 
fate,  tore  two  of  the  fleeing  fugitives  to  fragments. 

On  no  other  occasion  was  the  use  of  the  bayonet  so 
general  or  so  well  authenticated.  Three  brothers 
named  Noe,  of  the  Tenth  Kentucky,  went  over  the  rebel 
parapet  together,  and  two  of  them  pinned  their  adver- 
saries to  the  ground  with  the  bayonet.*  In  this  assault 
the  fact  was  demonstrated  that  where  men  make  an  as- 
sault with  empty  guns  the  bayonet  can  be  freely  and 
effectively  used. 

Of  the  troops  engaged  in  the  assault  at  Jonesboro  all 
belonged  to  the  Fourteenth  corps,  and  those  composing 
the  storming  column  consisted  of  the  Second  division 
entire,  and  one  brigade  of  the  Third  division.  The  vic- 
tory was  rich  in  the  spoil  of  the  battlefield.  Nearly  two 
thousand  prisoners,  two  batteries,  one  thousand  stand 
of  small  arms  and  seven  battle  flags  were  among  the 
trophies.  No  such  capture  of  men  and  material  had  been 
made  since  the  storming  of  Mission  Ridge.  In  addition 
to  being  the  only  successful  assault  on  the  enemy's  main 
line  in  the  long  campaign,  more  cannon,  battle  flags  and 
munitions  of  war  were  captured  by  the  Second  division 
at  Rome  and  Jonesboro  than  were  captured  by  the  entire 

*  Rebellion  Records,  No.  72,  page  753. 


September,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  227 

army  between  Dalton  and  Atlanta.  And  the  glory  be- 
longs in  part  to  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Eighty-fifth, 
the  living  and  the  dead,  who  had  a  part  in  that  trying 
campaign.  For  nearly  four  months  they  had  been 
almost  constantly  under  fire,  at  every  moment  liable  to 
be  picked  off,  while  the  sound  of  whistling  bullet  and 
bursting  shell  had  seldom  been  out  of  their  ears. 

In  the  assault  the  Second  division  lost  five  hundred 
and  forty  in  killed  and  wounded,  of  which  one  hundred 
and  thirty-five  were  from  the  Third  brigade.  At  Jones- 
boro  the  Eighty-fifth  sustained  the  following 

CASUALTIES. 
FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

WOUNDED— Colonel  Caleb  J.  Dilworth,  commanding  the  brigade; 
Major  Robert  G.  Rider,  commanding  the  regiment. 

COMPANY  B. 
KILLED — Corporal  Lewis  Boarmaster. 

COMPANY  D. 

WOUNDED— Corporal  William    D.  Close,  Jacob    S.  Dew,  Henry 
Howarth  and  Newton  C.  Patterson. 

COMPANY  E. 
KILLED— Thomas  Owens. 

COMPANY  F. 
KILLED — Sergeant  David  Hamilton. 

COMPANY  H. 
WOUNDED — Corporal  Thomas  B.  Engle  and  William  Frietley. 

COMPANY  I. 
WOUNDED— Sergeant  Neal  P.  Hughes  and  Ellis  Moore. 

COMPANY  K. 

KILLED— First  Sergeant  Smith  B.  Horsey. 
WOUNDED— Sergeant  Charles  Pond. 

On  Sunday  morning,  the  4th,  the  Third  brigade  was 
ordered  to  escort  the  prisoners  and  hospital  train  to 
Atlanta.  The  men  enjoyed  their  two  days  of  rest  after- 
the  battle,  and  were  prepared  for  a  long  and  rapid  march, 


228  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.     September,  1864. 

and  reached  the  city  that  evening.  The  prisoners  able 
to  march  numbered  some  seventeen  hundred  men,  and 
these  marched  two  and  two  in  the  middle  of  the  road, 
while  the  command  marched  in  four  ranks,  two  on  either 
side  of  the  captives.  Arriving  in  the  city  the  prisoners 
were  turned  over  to  the  garrison,  and  the  Third  brigade 
went  into  camp  on  the  west  side.  Within  the  next  few 
days  General  Sherman's  entire  army  returned  to  the 
vicinity  of  the  city,  and  went  into  camps  at  the  follow- 
ing points :  The  Army  of  the  Tennessee  at  East  Point, 
the  Army  of  the  Ohio  at  Decatur,  and  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  in  and  around  Atlanta. 

During  the  campaign  the  following  changes  oc- 
curred among  the  commissioned  officers:  Adjutant 
Clark  N.  Andrus  died  on  July  23rd  of  wounds  received 
at  Kennesaw  mountain,  and  First  Lieutenant  Preston  C. 
Hudson,  of  Company  I,  was  commissioned  to  succeed 
him  on  that  date.  The  position  of  first  assistant  surgeon 
had  long  been  vacant,  when  Dr.  Gilbert  W.  Southwick, 
of  Arcadia,  111.,  was  appointed  to  that  position  under 
date  of  August  29th.  First  Sergeant  John  K.  Milner, 
of  Company  A,  died  of  wounds  received  at  Peach  Tree 
creek;  he  had  been  commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  his 
company  on  March  2Oth,  1863,  but  for  lack  of  the  re- 
quired number  of  men  he  had  never  been  mustered.  He 
died  on  the  twentieth  of  August  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  On  the  2Qth  of  August  Captain  James  T.  Mc- 
Neil, of  Company  H,  resigned  and  First  Lieuten- 
ant Ira  A.  Mardis  was  promoted  to  be  captain.  Captain 
McNeil  had  never  recovered  from  the  hardships  and 
exposure  of  the  rebel  prison. 

During  the  Atlanta  campaign  the  following  deaths 


September,  1864.  ATLANTA  CAMPAIGN.  229 

occurred  in  the  Eighty-fifth  from  diseases  or  wounds : 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 
Adjutant  Clark  N.  Andrus. 

COMPANY  A— Corporal  Calvin  W.  Boon,  John  F.  Anno,  William 
Dortzfield  and  David  Kratzer,  of  wounds. 

COMPANY  B— William  Buff  alow,  of  wounds;  William  H.  Skiles, 
of  disease. 

COMPANY  C— Corporal  Thomas  Stagg,  Jeremiah  Deiterich,  Dan- 
iel Daugherty,  William  H.  Neeley,  James  K.  Young  and 
Thomas  M.  Young,  of  wounds;  and  James  Moslander,  of  dis- 
ease. 

COMPANY  D — John  J.  Murphy  and  Hugh  Morgan,  of  wounds; 
and  Willard  Hicks,  of  disease  in  Andersonville  prison. 

COMPANY  E— First  Sergeant  A.  J.  Taylor,  Sergeant  William  F. 
Hohamer,  Corporal  Bowling  Green,  Corporal  James  N.  Sheets 
and  James  E.  Thomas,  of  wounds. 

COMPANY  G — Silas  Dodge,  of  wounds. 

COMPANY  H— Charles  A.  Hughes,  of  disease;  John  A.  Thompson, 
of  wounds. 

COMPANY  I — Charles  Cain,  of  disease. 
COMPANY  K— John  Seibenborn,  of  disease. 

The  official  reports  at  the  close  of  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign show  that  the  aggregate  loss  of  the  Third  brigade 
was  one  thousand  and  eighty-nine,  distributed  among 
the  regiments  as  follows  :* 

Twenty-second  Indiana 231 

Fifty-second  Ohio   253 

Eighty-fifth  Illinois    194 

Eighty-sixth  Illinois    176 

One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Illinois 29 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois 206 

Total  .  ....1,089 


*  Rebellion  Records,  Serial  No.  72,  page  717. 


230  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.     September,  1864. 

The  casualties  in  the  Second  division  numbered 
twenty-four  hundred  and  seventy-two,  and  the  aggre- 
gate loss  by  each  brigade  was  reported  as  follows  :* 

First  brigade  536 

Second  brigade   847 

Third  brigade  1,089 

Total  2,472 

The  Atlanta  campaign  had  ended;  a  campaign  des- 
tined to  live  in  history  as  long  as  brilliant  strategy  is 
studied,  and  the  history  of  stubborn,  continuous  fighting 
is  read.  And  well  had  the  Eighty-fifth  borne  its  part, 
and  sustained  the  record  for  heroism  and  gallantry  won 
on  the  threshold  of  its  career,  at  Perryville.  The  Presi- 
dent, Congress,  the  press  and  the  loyal  people  of  the  land 
gave  unstinted  praise  to  General  Sherman  and  the  gal- 
lant officers  and  soldiers  who  had  forced  their  way  over 
broad  rivers  and  through  mountain  passes  from  Chatta- 
nooga to  the  "Gate  City."  But  tne  rebel  army  had  not 
been  destroyed,  and  other  arduous  campaigns,  much 
marching,  and  hard  battles  must  yet  be  fought,  and  in 
them  the  Eighty-fifth  was  to  have  a  conspicuous  part. 
At  this  time  the  official  reports  show  an  aggregate  pres- 
ent for  duty  in  the  regiment  of  two  hundred  and  nine- 
teen. 


*  Rebellion  Records,  Serial  No.  72,  page  643. 


September,  1864.  RESTING  AT  ATLANTA.  231 

CHAPTER  XIX. 


During  the  stay  in  Atlanta  the  Eighty-fifth  camped 
on  the  left  of  the  White  Hall  road,  just  beyond  the  city 
limits.  The  camp  was  well  located,  fuel  and  water  con- 
venient, little  duty  was  required,  the  men  were  allowed 
the  freedom  of  the  city,  and  all  who  cared  to  do  so  made 
the  circuit  of  the  works  erected  for  its  defense.  These 
earthworks  had  required  the  labor  of  thousands  of  slaves 
for  months,  and  were  models  of  strength  and  solidity, 
and  while  General  Sherman  was  preparing  plans  for  a 
new  aggressive  campaign,  the  men  discussed  the  prob- 
able direction  of  their  next  march.  In  the  meantime, 
General  Hood  was  preparing  to  assume  the  offensive, 
and  startle  the  country  by  a  campaign  bold  in  its  concep- 
tion, but  destined  to  end  in  signal  failure. 

The  rest  at  Atlanta  continued  for  nearly  a  month, 
the  health  of  the  regiment  was  greatly  improved,  and  its 
numbers  were  increased  by  the  return  of  many  of  those 
who  had  fallen  out  because  of  sickness  or  wounds  during 
the  campaign.  In  the  exchange  of  prisoners,  which 
took  place  at  this  time,  some  of  our  comrades  were  for- 
tunate enough  to  be  included,  and  returned  to  duty.  A 
strong  inner  line  of  earthworks  was  constructed  so  that  a 
small  force  might  hold  the  city  against  assault,  and 
nearly  all  non-combatants  were  sent  north  or  soutfi, 
whichever  way  they  chose  to  go.  Upon  a  hint  from 
army  headquarters  that  a  limited  number  would  be  fur- 
loughed,  a  few  officers  and  men  applied  for  twenty-five- 
days'  furloughs.  But  the  approval  of  these  applications 
was  destined  to  meet  the  command  far  to  the  north. 


232  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.         October,  186*. 

On  Thursday,  the  29th,  the  Second  division  received 
orders  to  be  ready  to  march  at  a  moment's  notice,  and 
there  were  rumors  of  a  raid  in  the  rear.  By  eight  o'clock 
three  days'  rations  had  been  issued,  and  all  were  in  readi- 
ness, but  the  day  passed  without  further  orders.  Mean- 
while the  men  waited  and  ate,  and  ate  and  waited,  until, 
as  is  usual  under  such  circumstances,  many  of  them  had 
eaten  their  three  days'  allowance  in  a  single  day.  Soon 
after  dark  the  command  moved  to  the  railroad  and 
boarded  a  train  of  empty  freight  cars,  which  reached 
Chattanooga  the  following  evening.  From  there  the 
division  proceeded  on  the  same  train  to  Huntsville,  Ala., 
where  it  arrived  at  noon  of  Sunday,  October  ist.  The 
brigade  went  into  camp  south  of  the  town,  and  soon  the 
tired  men  were  fast  asleep.  But  this  much-needed  rest 
only  lasted  two  hours,  when  the  bugles  sounded  the  as- 
sembly, and  the  command  hurried  back  to  the  station  to 
take  the  train  so  lately  abandoned  for  Athens.  A  few 
miles  out  from  Huntsville  the  railroad  track  was  found 
torn  up  and  the  command  left  the  train  and  marched  to 
Athens,  arriving  on  the  afternoon  of  the  3rd. 

When  the  Eighty-fifth,  with  the  other  troops  com- 
prising the  Second  division,  hurried  aboard  the  train  at 
Atlanta,  and  officers  and  men  were  packed  in  dirty 
freight  cars  like  sardines  in  a  box,  it  was  understood  that 
the  movement  was  of  great  urgency,  but  nothing  was 
known  of  our  destination.  Now  it  was  learned  that  the 
rebel  general,  Forrest,  with  a  large  force  of  cavalry  had 
crossed  the  Tennessee  river  and  attacked  the  garrison  at 
Huntsville.  But  the  advance  of  the  Second  division 
compelled  him  to  abandon  the  fight,  and  retire  in  the 
direction  of  Athens.  Damage  to  the  railroad 'was  For- 


October/1864.  BACK  IN  ALABAMA.  233 

rest's  main  object,  but  General  Morgan's  advance  was  so 
rapid  that  little  was  accomplished  in  that  line  by  the  raid- 
ers, and  they  soon  sought  safety  in  flight. 

From  Athens  the  enemy  moved  in  the  direction  ol 
Florence,  on  the  Tennessee  river,  and  on  the  morning  of 
the  4th  the  Second  division  moved  in  pursuit.  In  the 
afternoon  the  command  forded  Elk  river,  the  water 
reaching  to  the  arm-pits  of  the  men,  and  camped  for  the 
night  at  Rogersville,  some  four  miles  beyond.  A  heavy 
rain  had  been  falling  through  the  day,  which  continued 
without  ceasing  throughout  the  night,  and  the  men 
spent  a  miserable  night.  An  early  start  was  made  on 
the  next  morning,  the  command  crossing  Shoal  creek 
during  the  day,  and  camped  for  the  night  within  six 
miles  of  Florence.  The  Third  brigade  had  the  advance 
on  the  morning  of  the  6th.  Our  skirmishers  soon  found 
the  enemy,  and  rapidly  drove  Forrest's  rear  guard 
through  the  town  and  beyond  the  river.  In  this  skir- 
mish John  W.  McClaren,  of  Company  H,  was  wounded. 
He  had  but  recently  recovered  from  a  wound  received 
near  Dallas,  Georgia. 

On  the  evening  of  the  Qth  a  division  of  cavalry  com- 
manded by  General  C.  C.  Washburn  arrived  to  take  up 
the  pursuit  of  Forrest.  The  men  thought  that  these 
troopers  boasted  overmuch  of  what  they  would  do  with 
Forrest  when  they  found  him,  and  were  not  at  all  sur- 
prised to  learn  later  that  they  had  found  him  a  very 
tough  proposition.  The  Second  division  started  back 
to  Athens  on  the  morning  of  the  loth,  and  at  the  same 
time,  with  a  flourish  of  trumpets,  the  cavalry  division 
crossed  the  river  to  hunt  Forrest.  Soon  after  starting 
we  could  hear  the  roar  of  artillery  in  the  direction  the 


234  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.         October,  1864. 

cavalry  had  taken,  and  the  men  were  assured  that  our 
troopers  had  ''found  Forrest."  Long  afterward  we 
learned  that  Forrest  had  turned  on  his  over-confident 
pursuers  and  whipped  them  to  his  heart's  content.  An- 
other illustration  of  the  truth  that  "He  should  boast  that 
putteth  off  the  armor  rather  than  he  that  girdeth  it  on." 

From  the  time  the  command  took  the  train  at  At- 
lanta until  it  arrived  at  Florence  the  rain  fell  heavily  and 
almost  continuously.  The  roads  became  very  muddy 
and  the  streams  were  swelled  to  the  tops  of  their  banks. 
The  bridges  had  been  destroyed  by  the  enemy,  the  com- 
mand had  no  pontoons,  and  the  men  had  to  ford  the 
streams.  The  water,  reaching  at  times  to  the  armpits, 
kept  their  clothing  wet  and  increased  the  weight  they 
had  to  carry.  The  little  sleep  they  secured  was  that  of 
exhaustion  and  afforded  them  but  little  rest.  Their 
clothing  was  worn,  many  were  without  shoes,  and  all 
were  footsore  and  weary.  Perhaps  the  trip  from  At- 
lanta to  Florence  came  as  near  taxing  to  the  utmost  the 
physical  endurance  of  the  men  as  any  campaign  thus  far 
experienced.  However,  the  weather  cleared  up  while  at 
Florence,  and  the  return  to  Athens  was  much  more  com- 
fortable, although  the  march  was  rapid,  the  command 
arriving  there  on  the  evening  of  the  I2th. 

The  application  for  furloughs  made  at  Atlanta  was 
approved  and  met  the  command  at  this  point,  and  a  few 
of  the  Eighty-fifth  left  for  home  on  the  first  train  for  the 
north.  They  little  thought  that  the  fortunes  of  war 
would  interfere  with  their  return  to  duty  with  the  regi- 
ment until  the  following  spring.  But  at  the  expiration 
of  these  furloughs  Sherman's  army  was  on  its  way  to  the 
sea,  and  those  returning  from  the  north  were  held  at 


October,  1864.  AGAIN  IN  CHATTANOOGA.  235 

Chattanooga  until  they  could  reach  the  army  on  the 
Atlantic  coast. 

On  the  1 3th  the  Third  brigade  boarded  a  freight 
train  and  arrived  in  Chattanooga  the  next  day.  While 
at  this  place  about  one-half  of  the  men  received  shoes, 
and  some  clothing  was  issued,  but  still  there  was  but  a 
meager  supply.  The  division  was  kept  under  marching 
orders  during  the  stay  in  Chattanooga,  and  while  there 
General  Sherman  was  using  all  the  means  in  his  power 
to  bring  General  Hood's  army,  which  was  known  to  be 
between  Resaca  and  LaFayette,  to  battle. 

In  order  to  understand  the  situation  it  is  necessary 
to  briefly  review  the  movements  of  the  two  armies  since 
the  Second  division  left  Atlanta.  In  the  last  days  of 
September  the  President  of  the  Southern  Confederacy 
made  a  visit  to  the  headquarters  of  General  Hood,  and  a 
bold  plan  of  aggression  was  mapped  out.  According  to 
this  plan  Hood  was  to  throw  his  entire  army  upon  our 
communications,  capture  the  garrisons  and  destroy  the 
railroad,  then  cross  the  Tennessee  river  and  invade  Ten- 
nessee and  Kentucky.  In  pursuance  of  this  plan  Hood 
soon  appeared  on  the  railroad  north  of  Atlanta  and  with 
his  whole  army  began  destroying  the  road.  This,  the 
first  step  in  the  second  great  Confederate  scheme  of 
northern  invasion,  it  was  hoped  would  compel  Sherman 
to  abandon  Atlanta,  and  force  his  armies  out  of  Georgia. 
But,  leaving  the  Twentieth  corps  to  garrison  Atlanta, 
Sherman  moved  with  all  his  remaining  troops  in  hot  pur- 
suit, with  the  hope  of  forcing  the  enemy  to  a  general  en- 
gagement. Hood  destroyed  over  thirty  miles  of  rail- 
road, captured  the  garrisons  at  Big  Shanty,  Ackworth, 
Tilton  and  Dalton,  but  was  repulsed  at  Altoona  and 


236  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.         October,  18W. 

Resaca.  At  Altoona  Hood  met  a  decided  repulse  with 
heavy  loss.  Although  the  garrison  at  this  point  num- 
bered less  than  two  thousand  men,  it  captured  over  four 
hundred  prisoners  and  buried  two  hundred  and  thirty- 
one  of  the  enemy's  dead  left  on  the  field.  This  would 
show,  according  to  the  usual  proportion  of  killed  ;:o  the 
wounded,  that  the  loss  of  the  enemy  exceeded  in  num- 
ber the  entire  strength  of  the  garrison.  But  Hood  was 
marching  light  and  living  on  the  country;  his  strategy 
was  brilliant;  his  movements  were  executed  with  dash 
and  skill,  and  it  was  found  impossible  to  bring  him  to  a 
general  engagement, 

Tuesday,  the  i8th,  our  division,  with  Wagner's  di- 
vision of  the  Fourth  corps,  under  the  personal  command 
of  General  Schofield,  moved  out  on  the  L/aFayette  road 
across  the  battlefield  of  Chickamauga,  camping  for  the 
night  at  Lee  and  Gordon's  mills.  The  next  day  the  march 
led  through  LaFayette,  the  command  camping  just  be- 
yond the  town.  On  the  2Oth  we  passed  the  camps  occu- 
pied the  night  before  by  the  rebel  army  under  General 
Hood.  During  the  day  the  Second  division  came  in 
touch  with  other  divisions  of  Sherman's  army,  and  for  a 
time  a  battle  seemed  probable.  The  rear  guard  of  the 
enemy  showed  a  disposition  to  fight,  but  after  making  a 
pretentious  demonstration,  he  suddenly  withdrew  from 
our  front,  and  continued  his  retreat  toward  Gadsden, 
Ala.  Within  the  next  two  days  the  entire  army  was 
concentrated  around  Gaylesville,  ready  for  the  next 
move  in  the  game. 

At  Gaylesville,  a  small  town  on  the  eastern  border  of 
Alabama,  General  Sherman's  army  remained  almost  a 
week.  It  was  a  period  of  comparative  rest  to  the  rank 


I>AVIli  SIOLKY, 

CORPORAL.    COMPANY    B. 


237 


October,  1864.         THE  MARCH   TO  GAYLESVILLE.  239 

and  file,  but  of  great  activity  to  their  commander,  for  he 
was  completing  plans  for  his  march  to  the  sea.  Three 
days'  rations  of  bread,  meat  and  coffee  were  issued,  with 
orders  that  they  must  last  five.  But  as  forage  was 
abundant  in  the  rich  valleys  of  that  pleasant  region  this 
was  considered  no  great  hardship.  Guard  duty  was 
light,  as  the  troops  were  well  massed,  and  the  details  sent 
out  for  supplies  brought  in  sweet  potatoes,  meat,  mo- 
lasses and  honey.  The  men  operated  the  mills  in  the 
vicinity,  and  in  this  way  obtained  a  supply  of  corn  meal 
and  unbolted  flour.  But  by  the  end  of  our  stay  the 
country  was  eaten  out. 

While  Sherman's  army  lay  at  Gaylesville  Hood 
began  to  move  north  from  Gadsden  as  if  bound  for  Ten- 
nessee, and  on  the  28th,  when  the  main  body  of  our 
forces  moved  south  from  Gaylesville  the  Fourth  corps 
was  sent  back  to  defend  the  line  of  the  Tennessee  river. 
That  day  we  marched  nine  miles  toward  Rome,  camp- 
ing for  the  night  at  Missionary  station,  near  the  Georgia 
and  Alabama  line.  The  next  morning  the  march  was 
resumed,  the  command  arriving  at  Rome  that  afternoon. 
The  Eighty-fifth  camped  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Etowah  river  on  the  ground  where  the  Second  division 
fought  the  battle  of  Rome  in  the  month  of  May.  On 
the  last  day  of  October  the  Third  brigade  guarded  the 
trains  of  the  Fourteenth  corps  to  Kingston,  to  which 
point  the  First  and  Second  brigades  followed  on  the 
next  day. 

At  this  time  the  curious  and  extraordinary  spectacle 
was  seen,  of  two  hostile  armies  moving  in  exactly  oppo- 
site directions.  As  Hood  moved  north,  Sherman 
marched  south,  and  each  embraced  in  his  plan  the  same 

15 


240  HISTORY  OF  THE  8STH  ILLINOIS.      November,  1864. 

object — the  invasion  of  his  adversaries'  country.  Both 
were  men  of  sanguine  temperament,  but  the  Union  leader 
manoeuvered  with  a  degree  of  prudence  unknown  to  the 
insurgent  general.  At  first,  General  Sherman  thought 
Hood  would  abandon  his  plan  of  invasion,  and  throw  his 
army  to  our  front,  or  move  south  on  parallel  lines  until 
opportunity  offered  for  battle;  but  as  the  enemy's  north- 
ward march  continued,  it  became  necessary  to  provide 
for  the  defense  of  Tennessee.  To  this  end,  the  Twenty- 
third  army  corps  was  turned  back  from  Rome,  with 
orders  to  report  to  General  Thomas,  who  was  organiz- 
ing an  army  at  Nashville  to  meet  and  destroy  the  rebel 
army  in  the  event  it  crossed  the  Tennessee  river. 

Friday,  the  4th,  Major  Harris  visited  the  Eighty- 
fifth,  and  officers  and  men  each  received  eight  months' 
pay.  The  soldier  is  a  very  honest  sort  of  person, 
although  much  given  to  borrowing  between  pay  days, 
and  soon  the  men  were  engaged  in  paying  off  their  small 
debts.  But  this  large  payment  coming  at  a  time  and 
place  where  there  was  little  opportunity  for  spending 
money,  made  the  camp  unusually  flush,  and  what  to  do 
with  the  surplus  money  became  the  question  of  the  hour. 
Fortunately  the  regiment  had  a  chaplain  whom  all  could 
trust,  and  after  securing  a  leave  of  absence  for  that  pur- 
pose, he  gathered  up  the  money  the  men  wished  to  send 
to  family  and  friends,  and  left  for  the  north.  On  arriv- 
ing home  he  went  to  all  for  whom  he  had  money  and 
delivered  it  in  person.  This  was  but  one  of  the  many 
kindly  acts  of  the  good  chaplain  which  endeared  him  to 
the  men. 

The  presidential  election  occurred  while  we  lay  at 
Kingston,  and  on  the  8th  of  November,  the  regiments 


November,  1864.          THE  RETURN  TO  ATLANTA.  241 

from  nearly  all  of  the  states  voted  for  president.  Com- 
missioners were  sent  to  receive  the  ballots  of  those  in  the 
army  who  would  have  been  entitled  to  vote  if  at  home. 
But  the  Illinois  soldiers  were  denied  this  privilege 
because  a  Copperhead  legislature  had  refused  to  make 
the  necessary  provision.  So  while  the  men  from  other 
states  were  exercising  the  elective  franchise,  those  from 
Illinois  had  to  content  themselves  with  expressing 
their  contempt  and  hatred  for  those  who  brought 
this  wrong  upon  them.  Doubtless  among  the  men  from 
Illinois,  there  were  many  "souls  made  perfect,"  but  if  the 
remarks  made  upon  that  occasion  are  to  be  considered 
in  evidence,  then  surely  none  but  the  wholly  unregener- 
ate  gave  utterance  to  their  feelings. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  loth,  we  marched  through 
Cassville,  and  then  went  into  camp  at  Cartersville,  where 
we  remained  until  the  morning  of  the  J3th.  On  the  I2th 
the  last  railway  trains  passed  going  north,  and  later  in 
the  day  the  telegraph  was  cut  and  Sherman  and  his  army 
were  left  in  the  middle  of  the  Southern  Confederacy, 
with  no  means  of  communication  with  the  outside  world 
or  base  of  supplies,  until  he  should  open  one  on  the  sea 
coast.  That  day  General  Sherman  took  dinner  at  the 
headquarters  of  the  Second  division,  and  while  there 
received  and  answered  the  last  dispatch  from  the  north, 
and  the  work  of  burning  surplus  army  stores  and 
destroying  the  railroad  was  commenced.  That  night 
the  line  of  fire  lighting  up  the  road  as  far  as  the  eye  could 
reach,  revealed  the  thorough  manner  in  which  the  work 
of  destruction  was  being  done. 

On  the  1 3th,  the  division  moved  at  an  early  Hour, 
and,  after  destroying  six  miles  of  railroad,  marched  five 


242  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      November,  1864. 

miles  further,  camping  for  the  night  at  Ackworth.  The 
next  day  we  marched  twenty-one  miles  and  arrived  at 
Atlanta  on  the  I5th.  From  Kingston  to  Atlanta  the 
line  of  march  lay  over  familiar  and  historic  ground. 
Trees  riven  by  cannon  balls  or  girdled  with  fierce  mus- 
ketry; breastworks  the  command  had  struggled  for  but 
a  few  short  months  before,  and  the  graves  of  both  blue 
and  gray,  all  testified  to  the  determined  nature  of  the 
summer's  conflicts. 

Everything  in  the  city  that  could  make  it  valuable 
to  the  enemy  as  a  military  point  was  to  be  destroyed  and 
we  found  Atlanta  wrapped  in  flames.  That  night  the 
burning  mills,  machine  shops  and  warehouses  afforded 
a  grand  and  awe  inspiring  sight;  a  sad  and  melancholy 
exhibition  of  the  blighting  desolation  of  war.  We  had 
left  that  vicinity  forty-five  days  before,  and  in  that  period 
the  Second  division  marched  over  two  hundred  miles, 
traveled  by  rail  four  hundred  miles  and  destroyed  seven- 
teen miles  of  railroad. 

Eli  F.  Neikirk,  second  lieutenant  of  Company  K, 
resigned  on  November  4th,  but  as  the  company  was 
below  the  minimum  number,  no  successor  was  commis- 
sioned to  fill  the  vacancy. 

During  the  period  of  which  this  chapter  treats,  the 
following  deaths  occurred :  Henry  P.  Jones  and  Martin 
Troy,  of  disease,  Company  D ;  Richard  Griffin,  of  Com- 
pany E,  wounds;  Clinton  Logan,  of  Company  F,  was 
killed  by  accidental  discharge  of  a  musket,  and  Barn- 
hart  Noblack,  of  same  company,  died  of  wounds;  and 
Sergeant  Lorenzo  D.  Gould,  of  Company  G,  died  of 
disease. 


November,  1«*.  THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  243 

CHAPTER  XX. 


General  Sherman  divided  his  army  into  two  grand 
divisions  or  wings,  the  right  wing  composed  of  the  Fif- 
teenth and  Seventeenth  corps,  commanded  by  Major- 
General  O.  O.  Howard,  and  the  left  wing  consisting  of 
the  Fourteenth  and  Twentieth  corps,  commanded  by 
Major-General  Henry  W.  Slocum;  and,  in  addition, 
there  was  a  cavalry  division,  commanded  by  Brigadier- 
General  Judson  Kilpatrick,  making  in  round  numbers 
an  army  of  about  sixty-five  thousand  men. 

The  regiments  composing  this  veteran  army  had  been 
reduced  by  the  casualties  of  constant  service  to  one-third 
their  original  number.  The  space  occupied  by  a  brig- 
ade at  this  time  was  no  longer  than  that  filled  by  a  regi- 
ment when  first  mustered.  A  regiment  that  could 
parade  three  hundred  men  out  of  the  thousand  it 
entered  the  service  with,  was  considered  lucky,  and 
thirty  men  made  more  than  the  average  company.  Such 
had  been  the  loss  ratio  that  the  files  of  four  at  the  outset 
had  been  reduced,  in  many  instances,  to  a  single  soldier. 
This  veteran  army  was  an  army  of  boys  and  very  many 
of  them,  while  veterans  in  the  service,  were  yet  too 
young  to  vote.  Commanders  of  regiments  were  often 
less  than  thirty  years  of  age,  while  the  company  and  staff 
officers  were  generally  much  younger.  Their  long  hard 
service  had  made  them  fertile  in  resources,  and  inspired 
them  with  unbounded  self-confidence.  Glorying  in 
their  strength,  they  waded  streams  flushed  with  recent 
rains;  built  corduroy  roads  through  dismal  swamps; 
pulled  wagons  and  cannon  out  of  bottomless  mudholes 


244  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      November,  1864. 

and  stormed  the  enemy's  entrenched  lines,  with  as  little 
concern  as  they  resumed  the  march  in  the  morning-. 

Through  the  return  of  those  recovering  from 
wounds,  the  exchange  of  prisoners,  and  a  small  number 
of  recruits,  the  aggregate  present  for  duty  had  been 
materially  increased.  When  the  march  to  the  sea  began, 
the  Second  division  had  an  aggregate  present  for  duty 
of  5,542,  of  which  number  1,721  belonged  to  the  Third 
brigade.  But  for  the  reason  given  below  the  number 
present  for  duty  in  the  Eighty-fifth  cannot  be  given. 

Up  to  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  Eighty-fifth  at 
Atlanta,  each  company  had  been  allowed  room  in  the 
wagon  train  for  a  box  containing  its  books  and  papers, 
which  box,  when  opened,  answered  the  purpose  of  a 
desk.  But  in  September  orders  were  received  to  pack 
the  records  and  turn  the  boxes  in  to  the  quartermaster. 
The  understanding  at  the  time  was  that  at  the  end  of  the 
campaign  they  would  be  returned.  Accordingly  morn- 
ing reports,  order  books,  and  retained  copies  of  all 
papers  were  packed  in  company  desks  and  delivered  to 
the  quartermaster.  It  was  afterwards  reported  that  all 
had  been  shipped  to  Chattanooga  for  safe  keeping  and 
later  that  they  had  been  accidentally  destroyed  by  fire. 
That  they  were  destroyed  by  fire  the  writer  has  no  rea- 
son to  doubt,  and  whether  the  burning  was  accidental 
or  intentional,  the  result  was  the  same — all  were  lost. 
This  was  most  unfortunate,  as  the  loss  of  the  morning 
reports  renders  it  impossible  to  give  the  strength  of  the 
regiment  at  important  periods,  and  that  of  the  order 
books  makes  it  equally  impossible  to  give  credit  to  indi- 
viduals and  detachments  detailed  for  special  duty. 

The  march  to  the  sea  began  on    the  morning  of 


November,  IBM.  THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  245 

November  I5th,  by  the  two  corps  of  the  right  wing  mov- 
ing directly  toward  Macon.  And  bright  and  early  on 
the  1 6th,  the  Twentieth  corps  began  to  march  past  our 
camp,  but  it  was  near  noon  before  the  Second  division 
moved  in  the  rear  of  the  left  wing  toward  Augusta.  It 
will  be  observed  that  the  two  corps  of  each  wing  moved 
on  sharply  diverging  lines,  threatening  both  Macon  and 
Augusta,  but  the  general  plan  contemplated  a  concen- 
tration of  the  entire  army  at  Milledgeville,  the  capital 
of  the  state,  about  one  hundred  miles  southeast  of 
Atlanta.  We  marched  ten  miles  the  first  day,  and 
camped  for  the  night  on  Snapfinger  creek.  The  next 
day  we  marched  sixteen  miles,  passing  through  Litho- 
nia,  destroying  four  miles  of  railroad,  and  camped  for 
the  night  at  Con)^ers,  thirty  miles  east  of  Atlanta  by  rail. 
As  the  destruction  of  railroad  communications  between 
Richmond,  the  Confederate  capital,  and  the  gulf  states 
was  an  important  part  of  General  Sherman's  plan,  he 
spared  no  effort  to  accomplish  that  end.  And  as  the 
method  finally  adopted  for  this  purpose  was  both  novel 
and  thorough,  a  brief  description  is  here  inserted.  A 
brigade  would  halt  in  its  march  along  a  railroad  line, 
stack  arms  and  the  men  scatter  along  one  side  of  the 
track  Then  each  man  would  take  hold  of  a  tie,  and  at 
the  word  of  command,  all  lifting  together,  would  throw 
the  ties  end  over  end,  the  fall  breaking  the  rail  loose 
from  the  ties.  Then  the  ties  would  be  piled  up  like  cob- 
houses,  and  these  with  other  fuel  would  be  set  on  fire, 
and  the  rails  thrown  across  them.  In  a  short  time  the 
rails  would  be  red  hot  in  the  middle,  when  the  soldiers 
would  seize  the  rail  by  the  two  ends,  and  wrap  it  around 
a  tree  like  a  necktie  or  interlace  and  twine  a  pile  of  them 


246  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.       November,  WM. 

together  in  great  iron  knots,  while  others  with  cant- 
hooks  would  twist  the  hot  rails  into  corkscrew  patterns, 
which  .it  was  impossible  to  straighten,  and  rendering 
them  useless  for  any  purpose  other  than  old  iron.  In 
this  way  an  army  corps  marching  along  a  railroad  could 
easily  destroy  ten  to  fifteen  miles  in  a  day.  Moreover, 
to  complete  the  destruction  of  the  enemy's  communi- 
cations, the  railway  culverts  were  blown  up,  the  bridges 
burned  and  the  machine  shops  were  leveled  to  the 
ground.  The  extent  of  line  destroyed  was  enormous. 
More  than  a  hundred  miles  of  the  road  from  Chatta- 
noga  running  through  Atlanta  to  Macon ;  from  Atlanta 
east  toward  Augusta  another  hundred  miles,  and  almost 
the  entire  length  of  the  Georgia  Central  was  ruined  to 
the  suburbs  of  Savannah.  On  the  iSth,  we  marched 
sixteen  miles,  passing  through  Covington  and  Oxford, 
and  destroyed  three  miles  of  railroad,  camping  beyond 
the-Ulcofauchee  river.  On  the  next  day  we  marched 
twenty  miles,  passing  through  Sandtown  and  camping 
near  Shady  Grove.  We  marched  twenty  miles  on  Sun- 
day, the  2Oth,  and  camped  near  Eatonton  factories, 
which  we  burned.  The  next  day  we  turned  south, 
marched  twelve  miles  toward  Milledgeville,  through  a 
heavy  rain  and  over  bad  roads,  and  camped  south  of 
Cedar  creek.  We  remained  in  camp  the  22nd  and  the 
First  and  Third  divisions  with  the  pontoon  train  passed 
to  the  front.  Weather  cleared  up  cold  after  a  slight 
flurry  of  snow.  On  the  next  day,  we  marched  fourteen 
miles,  camping  on  the  plantation  of  Howell  Cobb,  who 
had  been  secretary  of  the  treasury  under  Buchanan,  and 
was  then  a  general  in  the  Southern  army.  This  planta- 
tion abounded  in  corn,  beans,  peanuts  and  sorghum 


November,  186*.  THE  MARCH  TO  THE)  SEA.  247 

molasses,  all  of  which,  together  with  the  fences  and 
buildings,  were  appropriated  by  General  Davis  to  the 
use  and  comfort  of  his  men.  Near  our  camp  was  a 
stack  of  peanuts,  containing  probably  more  than  a  thou- 
sand bushels.  That  night  the  men  roasted  and  ate  of 
them  until  many  have  never  cared  for  peanuts  since,  and 
when  we  left  in  the  morning,  the  stack  caught  fire  and 
the  remainder  was  consumed.  Indeed  the  fire  con- 
sumed about  all  found  on  this  traitor's  plantation  that 
hungry  men  and  animals  could  not  eat. 

We  passed  through  Milledgeville  about  ten  o'clock 
on  the  24th,  crossed  the  Oconee  river,  and  moved  in  the 
direction  of  Louisville.  Up  to  this  time  there  had  been 
no  organized  force  to  resist  our  progress,  or  to  even 
seriously  interfere  with  our  rollicking  foragers.  Appeals 
as  fervid  as  they  were  futile  had  been  made  by  both  Con- 
federate and  state  authorities,  calling  upon  the  people 
to  rise  and  expel  the  invaders  from  the  state,  but  the 
utter  helplessness  of  the  situation  was  so  apparent  to 
all  that  the  people,  paralyzed  with  fear,  paid  little  or  no 
heed  to  the  noisy  but  impotent  proclamations.  But 
when  near  Saundersville,  on  the  26th,  our  old  time 
enemy,  General  Wheeler,  with  his  cavalry  appeared  on 
the  scene  and  drove  our  foragers  in  on  the  main  column. 
The  Second  brigade  being  in  advance  deployed,  and, 
after  a  sharp  skirmish,  drove  the  enemy  through  the 
town,  with  the  loss  of  one  killed  and  two  wounded.  We 
crossed  the  Ogeechee  river  on  the  next  day  and  arrived 
at  Louisville  on  the  evening  of  the  28th,  where  we 
remained  for  two  days. 

On  the  next  day  a  foraging  party  was  suddenly  sur- 
rounded and  captured.  They  were  disarmed  and  hur- 


248  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS       November,  WM. 

ried  a  short  distance  into  the  woods,  where  they  were 
stood  in  line  by  their  inhuman  captors,  and  deliberately 
shot  down  in  cold  blood.  Several  were  instantly  killed, 
and  the  wounded  shammed  death  until  their  captors  left 
the  scene.  Soon  after  the  camp  was  aroused  by  one  of 
the  slightly  wounded,  and  a  strong  skirmish  line 
advanced  and  recovered  the  dead  and  relieved  the 
wounded.  In  this  affair  the  loss  of  the  Eighty-fifth  was 
as  follows: 

KILLED — William  Earp,  sergeant  of  Company  F;  Simon  Heaton, 
of  Company  H. 

WOUNDED— Sergeant  F.  M.  McColgan,  of  Company  F;  Corporal 
Perry  W.  Clupper,  of  Company  G. 

Warned  by  this  experience,  our  foraging  party  was 
strongly  reinforced  the  next  morning,  which  was  very 
fortunate  as  the  events  of  the  day  proved.  The  forag- 
ing party  of  the  3Oth,  found  abundant  forage  some 
eight  miles  from  camp  and  had  filled  their  wagons  by 
noon.  But  while  eating  their  dinner  previous  to  the 
return  trip,  the  rebel  cavalry  suddenly  appeared  between 
them  and  camp  and  opened  fire.  The  men  quickly  ral- 
lied, however,  and  charged  through  the  enemy's  line, 
but  by  the  time  they  had  routed  the  foe  and  closed  up- 
their  forage  train,  the  enemy  was  found  again  in  their 
front.  The  news  of  the  peril  surrounding  the  foragers 
soon  reached  camp  and  the  Eighty-fifth  started  on  the 
double  quick  to  their  assistance,  reaching  them  none 
too  soon,  as  they  had  charged  and  scattered  the  rebel 
cavalry  eight  times  that  afternoon  and  were  well  nigh 
exhausted.  They  had,  however,  pluckily  held  on  to 
their  forage  train.  About  the  time  the  regiment  started 
to  the  relief  of  the  sorely-pressed  foragers  the  other  regi- 


December,  1864.  THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  249 

ments  were  advanced  against  the  enemy,  who  were 
boldly  threatening  the  camp,  and  after  a  sharp  skirmish 
drove  him  out  of  a  line  of  earthworks  and  a  mile  or  more 
beyond.  A  cotton  gin  containing  forty  or  fifty  bales  of 
cotton,  from  behind  which  the  enemy  had  fired  on  our 
men,  was  burned. 

We  moved  from  Louisville  on  December  ist,  our 
division  guarding  the  corps  train  and  reserve  artillery, 
while  the  other  two  divisions  marched  on  parallel  roads 
to  our  left.  We  marched  in  this  way  for  several  days 
until  we  reached  the  Savannah  river.  The  roads  ran 
through  swamps  that  had  to  be  corduroyed  before  the 
train  could  pass,  the  country  was  generally  flat  and 
sparsely  settled,  and  while  the  foragers  found  a  fair  sup- 
ply of  meat  and  sweet  potatoes,  flour  and  meal  were 
very  scarce.  On  Sunday,  the  4th,  we  destroyed  three 
miles  of  railroad  at  Lumpkins  station,  and  the  next 
evening,  after  a  hard  day's  march  over  difficult  roads, 
we  camped  at  Jacksonboro,  near  the  point  where  Brier 
creek  falls  into  the  Savannah  river.  On  the  6th,  we 
marched  twenty  miles,  moving  not  far  from  and  parallel 
with  the  river.  Our  route  led  us  through  dismal  swamps 
and  deep  loose  sand,  through  which  the  train  moved 
with  great  difficulty.  We  camped  after  dark  near  Hud- 
son's Ferry. 

An  amusing  incident  occurred  at  this  camp,  which 
delayed  the  supper  of  a  hungry  mess.  Near  Milledge- 
ville  a  colored  man  came  to  a  certain  mess  and  offered 
to  cook  meals  and  carry  its  outfit  on  the  march,  in 
return  for  permission  to  go  along  with  the  army.  He 
was  the  blackest  man  the  writer  ever  saw;  of  powerful 
build  and  gigantic  stature.  But  his  speech  was  a  kind 


250  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.     December,  1864. 

of  jargon  and  very  difficult  to  understand,  and  from 
the  disconnected  story  he  told  around  our  camp  fire,  it 
appeared  that  he  was  a  native  of  Africa;  that  he  had 
been  brought  oyer  by  a  slave  trader  from  the  African 
coast  but  a  short  time  before  the  war  began,  and  sold 
to  a  Georgia  planter  living  in  the  vicinity  of  the  state 
capital.  He  proved  to  be  a  good  cook,  a  noble  forager 
and  provided  the  best  the  country  afforded  for  the  mess. 
As  soon  as  fires  had  been  kindled  on  that  occasion  for 
cooking  supper,  and  as  the  colored  man,  with  a  camp 
kettle  in  each  hand,  was  starting  for  a  supply  of  water, 
a  rebel  gun-boat  over  in  the  river  opened  fire,  sending 
a  monstrous  sixty-four-pounder  shell  screaming  over 
our  heads.  In  passing,  it  tore  branches  from  the  trees, 
which  added  to  the  infernal  noise  made  in  its  flight.  At 
the  moment  of  its  passage,  the  writer  was  looking  at  the 
cook,  perhaps  somewhat  anxiously,  as  he  was  very 
hungry,  and  saw  him  bound  into  the  air,  give  an 
unearthly  scream,  fling  his  camp  kettles  to  the  wind  and 
go  bounding  end  over  end  through  the  brush,  to  disap- 
pear in  the  darkness.  He  vanished  as  completely  as  if 
he  had  been  translated,  and  we  never  saw  him  afterward. 
Fortunately  the  gunboat,  which  was  probably  patrolling 
the  river,  only  fired  one  shot,  but  it  was  observed  that 
the  men  were  content  to  cook  on  low  fires  and  eat  in 
the  dark. 

On  the  7th,  we  marched  fifteen  miles,  passing 
through  two  swamps  that  were  badly  obstructed  by  trees 
felled  by  the  enemy  to  delay  the  advance,  and  camped 
near  Ebenezer  Creek.  The  next  day  we  had  to  wait 
until  pontoons  were  brought  up  and  bridges  built  before 
we  could  cross  the  two  streams  known  as  Big  and  Little 


December,  1864.  THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  251 

Ebenezer.  This  was  historic  ground,  Ebenezer  church, 
standing  at  the  roadside,  having  been  a  rallying  point 
for  General  Marion  and  his  men  in  the  War  of  the  Revo- 
lution. It  was  dark  when  we  camped  that  evening,  the 
rain  was  falling  steadily,  and  everything  in  the  shape  of 
fuel  was  soaked  with  water.  Finally,  when  with  much 
effort  the  men  had  succeeded  in  starting  their  fires,  and 
had  just  put  their  coffee  on  to  boil,  orders  were  received 
to  fall  in  and  return  to  Ebenezer  creek.  Wheeler's  cav- 
alry was  pressing  the  rear  guard  and  threatening  the 
pontoon  train  with  capture.  The  wet,  tired,  and  hun- 
gry men,  while  taking  their  places  in  the  ranks,  made 
many  forcible  if  not  elegant  remarks  descriptive  of  their 
feelings,  and  expressive  of  their  forlorn  condition.  But 
perhaps  no  one  came  nearer  expressing  the  sentiment 
of  the  entire  brigade  than  did  a  soldier  who  was 
observed  to  linger  to  the  last,  over  a  coffee  can  that 
refused  to  boil.  At  the  last  moment,  he  kicked  his  can 
over  and  his  fire  out,  and  as  he  slung  his  musket  across 
his  back  and  started  to  take  his  place  in  his  company,  his 
strong,  clear  voice  rang  out  in  perfect  time,  as  he  sang 
a  profane  parody  of  the  line  in  that  familiar  song, 
"O,  when  this  cruel  war  is  over." 

The  return  of  the  Third  brigade  to  Ebenezer  creek 
promptly  checked  the  enemy  and  we  camped  about 
midnight  on  the  north  bank  of  that  stream.  On  the 
9th,  we  marched  eight  miles,  built  bridges  over  two 
creeks,  and  ran  up  against  a  line  of  rebel  earthworks, 
with  a  battery  planted  at  the  point  where  the  works 
crossed  the  road. 

The  enemy  had  selected  a  strong  position  to  make  a 
brief  stand  with  a  few  men,  at  a  point  where  a  road 


252  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      December,  1864. 

passed  between  two  swamps.  When  the  rebel  battery 
opened  on  the  head  of  the  column,  the  Third  brigade 
was  promptly  deployed  on  both  sides  of  the  road,  and 
our  battery  was  brought  up  and  returned  the  enemy's 
fire.  In  the  artillery  duel  which  followed,  Lieutenant 
Coe,  of  Battery  I,  Second  Illinois  artillery,  was  killed, 
and  two  men  on  the  skirmish  line  were  wounded.  The 
death  of  Lieutenant  Coe  cast  a  gloom  over  the  entire 
brigade,  where  he  was  well  known  for  his  courage  and 
skill,  and  where  he  was  universally  respected  for  his 
gentlemanly  bearing.  At  this  time  darkness  intervened 
and  the  entire  brigade  remained  as  a  picket  line  for  the 
night.  We  afterward  learned  that  the  enemy  had 
intended  to  defend  the  city,  only  fifteen  miles  distant,  on 
the  line  of  defenses  here  encountered.  This  line  of  de- 
tached works  extended  from  the  Savannah  river  on  the 
east  to  the  Ogeechee  river  on  the  west.  But  the  rapid 
advance  of  the  right  wing  of  the  army  down  the  right 
bank  of  the  Ogeechee  turned  the  enemy  under  General 
Hardee  out  of  this  line  of  works,  and  forced  him  to  fall 
back  to  his  interior  line  at  the  city.  The  next  morning 
we  found  the  works  in  our  front  abandoned  and  we 
advanced  to  the  Ten-mile  House,  where  we  fell  in  with 
the  Twentieth  corps,  which  had  the  right  of  way,  and 
we  camped  at  that  point  for  the  night.  On  Sunday,  the 
nth,  we  closed  down  on  the  enemy's  defenses  at  Savan- 
nah, which  were  found  to  be  very  formidable  and  armed 
with  an  abundance  of  heavy  artillery. 

Savannah  was  then  a  city  of  some  twenty-five  thou- 
sand people,  is  situated  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Savan- 
nah river  and  distant  but  fifteen  miles  from  the  ocean. 
It  is  built  upon  an  elevation  about  forty  feet  above  tide 


December,  186t.  THF  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  253 

water,  as  near  the  harbor  entrance  as  suitable  ground  on 
which  to  build  a  city  could  be  found.  Just  below  the 
city  the  land  sinks  almost  to  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  is 
cut  into  islands  by  canals  or  creeks.  The  Savannah  and 
Ogeechee  rivers  fall  into  the  ocean  near  each  other,  and 
for  about  fifty  miles  from  the  sea,  a  strip  of  land  sep- 
arates them  not  more  than  ten  to  fifteen  miles  in  width. 
As  our  army  approached  from  the  north,  down  this  nar- 
row strip  of  land,  it  formed  a  compact  line  from  the 
Savannah  river  on  the  left  to  the  Ogeechee  near  King's 
bridge  on  the  right.  The  skirmish  line  in  front  of  the 
Second  division  was  near  the  three-mile  post,  the 
entrenched  lines  of  the  enemy  being  about  a  quarter  of 
a  mile  nearer  the  city. 

On  December  I3th,  a  division  of  the  Fifteenth  army 
corps,  commanded  by  General  William  B.  Hazen, 
stormed  and  carried  Fort  McAllister,  on  the  right  bank 
of  the  Ogeechee,  capturing  the  entire  garrison,  together 
with  the  armament  of  the  fort.  This  brilliant  feat  of 
arms  solved  the  question  of  a  base  of  supplies  on  the 
sea  coast,  by  opening  the  Ogeechee  river  to  light 
draught  steamers,  by  the  use  of  which  supplies  could  be 
brought  up  to  King's  bridge  and  landed  in  the  rear  of 
the  right  of  the  army.  The  capture  of  this  fort  v/as  of 
vast  importance.  The  foragers  were  no  longer  able  to 
procure  either  food  or  forage,  in  a  country  almost 
entirely  devoted  to  rice  farming,  and  for  several  days  the 
army  had  been  living  on  short  rations  drawn  from  the 
scant  supply  brought  from  Atlanta  in  the  wagon  trains. 
But  the  successful  issue  of  the  assault  on  Fort  McAllis- 
ter not  only  insured  abundant  food  supplies,  as  soon  as 
the  river  could  be  cleared  of  obstructions,  but  the  mails 


254  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.       December,  1864. 

would  be  brought  up  and  we  would  hear  from  the  loved 
ones  at  home. 

Through  the  thoughtfulness  of  General  Grant,  a 
fleet  of  vessels  loaded  with  supplies  for  the  army  was 
waiting  for  the  arrival  of  Sherman's  army  on  the  coast. 
The  mails  which  had  accumulated  since  his  departure 
from  Atlanta  had  with  like  care  been  forwarded  by  a 
despatch  boat,  and  on  the  i/th  the  hearts  of  the  men 
were  made  glad  by  the  distribution  of  the  mails  that  had 
piled  up  during  their  sojourn  in  tfie  tottering  Confed- 
eracy. 

In  the  meantime  a  heavy  fire  was  maintained  along 
the  skirmish  lines  and  the  enemy's  workswere  reconnoit- 
ered  to  find,  if  possible,  points  where  they  might  be  car- 
ried by  storm.  Several  points  in  front  of  the  Fourteenth 
corps  were  selected,  where  it  was  thought  the  enemy's 
entrenched  lines  might  be  carried.  Siege  guns  were 
brought  up  from  the  fleet  outside  the  harbor,  and  placed 
in  batteries  to  protect  the  assaulting  columns.  Light 
bridges  were  constructed  for  the  men  to  carry,  with 
which  to  cross  the  canals  and  ditches  that  might  be 
encountered  in  the  charge,  which  promised  to  be  san- 
guinary. But  before  arrangements  for  the  assault  had 
been  completed,  the  enemy  withdrew  from  the  city, 
crossed  the  river  and  retired  into  South  Carolina.  The 
enemy  retreated  during  the  night  of  the  2Oth,  and  before 
daylight  the  next  morning  our  skirmishers  entered  his 
abandoned  works,  thus  ending  a  brilliant  and  successful 
campaign  by  the  capture  of  Savannah.  Among  the 
property  abandoned  by  the  fleeing  enemy  were  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  pieces  of  heavy  artillery  and  over  thirty 
thousand  bales  of  cotton. 


.JOSEPH  B.  CO3VOVKR, 


255 


December,  1864.  THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  257 

The  Third  brigade  arrived  at  Savannah  with  an 
aggregate  strength  of  1,714,  of  which  there  were  present 
for  duty  in  the  Eighty-fifth  232. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 


When  General  Sherman  determined  to  abandon 
Atlanta,  march  quickly  across  three  hundred  miles  of 
hostile  country  and  seize  one  of  the  harbors  on  the  sea 
coast,  the  subsistence  of  the  army  upon  the  country 
became  a  necessary  part  of  his  plan.  An  army  can  live 
on  the  country  while  on  the  march,  but  it  must  have  the 
ordinary  means  of  supply  within  a  very  few  days  after  it 
halts,  or  it  will  starve.  All  the  ports  on  the  southern 
coast  were  known  to  be  fortified  ,and  presumably  strong 
enough  to  render  abortive  any  attempt  to  carry  them  by 
storm.  Ordinary  prudence,  therefore,  demanded  that 
sufficient  provisions  be  carried  in  the  wagon  trains  to 
supply  the  army  while  engaged  in  gaining  possession  of 
a  harbor  on  the  coast  suitable  for  a  new  base  of  supplies. 
To  meet  such  an  emergency  twenty  days'  rations  were 
taken  in  the  wagon  trains  from  Atlanta,  but  these  were 
not  to  be  issued  while  the  army  was  moving  into  new 
fields  each  day. 

In  an  elaborate  general  order  issued  at  the  beginning 
of  the  campaign,  General  Sherman  said,  "The  armv  will 
forage  liberally  on  the  country  during  the  march,"  and 
provided  for  daily  details  from  each  brigade,  whose  duty 
it  should  be  to  gather  from  the  country  along  the  line 
of  march  food  for  the  men  and  forage  for  the  animal s. 

16 


258  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      December,  18W. 

The  order  also  provided  that  the  details  for  foraging 
should  be  under  the  command  of  discreet  officers,  and 
the  supplies  gathered  should  be  issued  by  the  commis- 
sary department.  The  result  proved  unsatisfactory ;  the 
forage  detail  lived  on  the  fat  of  the  land,  while  the  troops 
claimed  that  they  did  not  get  a  fair  share  of  the  hams 
and  honey,  the  turkeys  and  chickens,  the  pigs,  potatoes 
and  molasses.  So  the  plan  was  modified  by  authorizing 
a  detail  of  four  men  from  each  company,  making  a 
detachment  of  forty  men,  under  the  command  of  a  bold 
and  enterprising  officer,  to  forage  for  each  regiment,  the 
provisions  gathered  to  be  issued  independent  of  the 
commissary  department.  This  plan  proved  entirely 
satisfactory. 

Having  been  advised  of  the  intended  line  of  march 
and  the  probable  location  of  the  next  camp,  the  foragers 
would  start  before  daylight  and  visit  during  the  day 
every  farm  and  plantation  within  five  or  six  miles  of  the 
marching  column.  Wagons,  ox-carts  and  family  car- 
riages were  pressed  into  service  and  loaded  with  provi- 
sions and  forage,  in  short,  everything  that  could  be  used 
as  food  for  man  or  beast  was  taken,  and  brought  to  the 
road  on  which  the  column  was  marching,  if  possible,  in 
advance  of  the  trains.  Then  as  we  drew  near  camp  in 
the  evening  the  strange  and  varied  collection,  not  only 
of  food  and  forage,  but  of  ingeniously  contrived  make- 
shifts of  transportation,  made  a  mirth  provoking  caval- 
cade. A  wagon  loaded  with  corn  and  cornfodder,  drawn 
by  a  thoroughbred  horse  and  a  scrawny  mule,  a  silver 
mounted  family  carriage  loaded  with  hams  and  bacon 
drawn  by  a  jackass  and  a  cow  in  rope  harness,  and  an 
ox-cart  loaded  with  animals  dead  and  alive,  drawn  by  a 


December,  186*.  THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  259 

cow  and  mule  hitched  tandem.  Oxen  and  cows,  as  well 
as  horses  and  mules,  were  used  by  the  foragers  as  pack 
animals,  and  these  would  appear  loaded  down  with  tur- 
keys, chickens,  corn  meal,  sweet  potatoes  and  other 
vegetables. 

The  extravagant  militia  uniforms  of  past  genera- 
tions were  occasionally  found,  and  foragers  dressed  in 
them  added  to  the  comical  side  of  the  fantastic  proces- 
sion, as  they  escorted  their  improvised  trains  of  booty  to 
the  camp.  Even  the  regimentals  of  the  revolutionary 
period  would  sometimes  appear  in  the  forager's  mas- 
querade. At  one  time  a  forager  dressed  in  a  continen- 
tal uniform  indicating  high  rank,  with  chapeau  and  wav- 
ing plume,  mounted  on  a  fine  horse  with  a  strip  of  car- 
pet for  a  saddle,  appeared  at  the  roadside  and  with  mock 
gravity  reviewed  the  column  at  it  passed. 

In  a  country  of  dense  population,  where  the  distance 
between  towns  and  cities  is  not  great,  a  requisition  for 
food  and  forage  is  practical  and  far  preferable  to  seizure. 
But  in  a  region  so  sparsely  settled  as  that  through  which 
our  army  marched,  where  towns  were  few  and  small, 
and  where  supplies  were  generally  found  on  scattered 
farms  and  plantations,  there  was  no  way  by  which  pro- 
visions could  be  obtained  except  by  direct  seizure.  For- 
aging, therefore,  became  a  vital  necessity  and  the  for- 
agers, commonly  known  as  "Sherman's  Bummers,"  per- 
formed a  service  without  which  the  march  to  the  sea 
would  have  been  an  impossibility.  But  the  aptitude  of 
the  forager  for  his  task,  and  the  originality  of  his  meth- 
ods, was  a  revelation  alike  to  all,  from  the  commanding 
general  down  to  the  rank  and  file. 

At  first  the  foragers  went  on  foot,  but  first  one  and 


260  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      November,  1864. 

then  another  secured  a  horse  and  very  soon  all  were 
mounted.     Moving  in  advance  or  on  the  flanks,  they 
formed  a  body  of  ideal  rangers.     Their  long  range  rifles 
gave  them  a  decided  advantage  over  the  carbines  of  the 
enemy's  cavalry,  and  none  of  his  troopers  were  ever  able 
to  break  through  the  foragers'  line  far  enough  to  feel 
the  marching  column.     In  seeking  out  hidden  stock  and 
stores,  and  in  finding  their  way  about  the  country,  they 
seemed  to  be  guided  by  an  unerring  instinct.     In  many 
instances,  fearing  the  rapacity  of  the  "vandal  Yankees," 
the  inhabitants  had  fled,  taking  with  them  what  they 
could.     Where  the  premises  were  abandoned,  the  for- 
agers made  a  clean  sweep,  but  where  the  citizens  were 
found  at  home  they  made  a  fair  divide,  leaving  enough 
to  support  the  family.     In  other  cases  it  was  found  that 
the  planters  had  buried  their  provisions  in  the  ground, 
and  driven    their   horses,    mules    and    cattle    into    the 
swamps  for  safety,  for   the    Federal    and    Confederate 
armies  were  alike  dependent  upon  foraging    for    their 
subsistence.     But  the  men  soon  became  skillful  experts 
in  discovering  stores  that  had  been  buried.     From  the 
general  appearance  of  the  barns  and  smoke-houses  on 
the  plantation,  they  quickly  decided  whether  provisions 
had  been  buried  or  stock  sent  to  the  swamp.     By  indi- 
cations they  would  probably  have  found  hard  to  describe 
they  would  determine  the  vicinity  in  which  the  stores 
would  likely  be  found.     Then  they  would  advance  in 
line,   in   open   order,   driving  their   ramrods   into   the 
ground,  and  very  soon  the  hidden  treasure,  whether  of 
bacon  and  hams  or  sweet  potatoes,  would  be  discovered. 
Usually  a  hint  from  some  darkey  would  indicate  the  par- 
ticular swamp  where  the  animals  had  been  concealed, 


December,  1864.  TUB  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  261 

when  the  horses,  mules  and  beeves  would  speedily 
change  owners. 

Gathering-  subsistence  was  not  the  only  service  ren- 
dered by  the  bold  and  dashing  foragers.  They  not  only 
had  an  abiding  faith  in  their  own  invincibility,  but  they 
held  the  cavalry  of  the  enemy  in  utter  contempt.  So 
when  attacked  by  the  enemy,  no  matter  what  the  num- 
bers were,  they  gave  fight.  Others  hearing  the  firing 
would  hasten  to  take  part,  and  if  forced  to  retire  they 
fell  back  fighting,  and  sooner  or  later  the  sound  of  battle 
would  gather  numbers  sufficient  to  rout  any  cavalry 
force  they  ever  encountered.  In  some  instances  they 
drove  the  enemy  away,  seized  bridges  before  they  could 
be  destroyed,  and  held  them  until  the  main  column 
appeared.  Their  duties  called  them  to  endure  great 
hardships,  and  placed  them  in  grave  peril,  but  their 
love  of  fun  caused  them  to  give  a  rollicking  turn  to 
the  most  gloomy  situation.  When  we  reached  Savan- 
nah the  function  of  the  forager  ceased,  they  surrendered 
their  horses  to  the  provost  marshals  and  returned  to 
their  duties  in  the  ranks.  No  greater  compliment  can 
be  paid  to  the  so-called  "Bummer,"  and  no  better  proof 
of  the  high  discipline  maintained  in  our  army,  can  be 
asked  or  given  than  the  statement  that  this  fact  affords. 

The  march  to  the  sea  afforded  the  troops  a  rare 
opportunity  to  look  upon  the  homes  of  the  south,  and  to 
learn  how  the  war  affected  them.  The  picture  in  some 
instances  was  sad,  in  others  it  was  simply  ludicrous.  In 
the  midst  of  plenty  there  was  apparent  decay.  The 
country  was  full  of  what  were  luxuries  to  us  and  no 
army  ever  lived  better  than  we  did.  That  an  army  of 
sixty-five  thousand  men  could  live  sumptuously  while  it 


262  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.      December,  1864. 

marched  leisurely  through  a  state  in  which  thousands  of 
Union  soldiers  had  died  of  starvation  in  prison  pens,  was 
a  demonstration  of  the  utter  untruthfulness  of  the  claim 
of  the  rebel  authorities,  that  they  were  unable  to  feed 
the  famishing  prisoners.  In  addition  to  the  sheep, 
swine,  fowls,  corn  meal,  and  sweet  potatoes  consumed 
by  the  troops  while  on  the  march,  13,000  beeves,  5,000 
horses,  and  4,000  mules  were  found  suitable  for  army 
use  and  were  pressed  into  the  service. 

When  the  first  mail  reached  the  army  in  front  of 
Savannah,  the  papers  were  eagerly  searched  for  news 
from  our  comrades  in  war-wasted  Tennessee.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  we  left  General  Hood  in  Northern 
Alabama,  apparently  intent  upon  invading  the  North. 
At  the  same  time  General  Thomas  was  organizing  an 
army  at  Nashville  to  repel  the  threatened  invasion.  By 
the  newspaper  reports  it  appeared  that  after  crossing 
the  Tennessee,  Hood  had  been  delayed  at  Pulaski  and 
Columbia,  by  the  defensive  tactics  resorted  to  by  Gen- 
eral Thomas,  who  was  manoeuvering  to  gain  time  for 
the  concentration  of  his  army.  Already  impatient  at 
what  seemed  to  him  uncalled  for  delay,  when  he  found 
the  Fourth  and  Twenty-third  army  corps  entrenched 
across  his  path  at  Franklin,  the  fiery  chief  of  the  rebel 
army  attacked  them  with  rather  more  than  his  usual 
recklessness.  The  assault  was  made  with  the  dash  and 
impetuosity  so  characteristic  of  the  southern  soldier, 
and  although  the  enemy  met  a  bloody  repulse,  his 
attacks  were  continued  until  far  in  the  night.  But  it 
also  appeared  that  after  repulsing  the  enemy  with  heavy 
loss  at  all  points,  our  army  had  retired  during  the  night 


December,  1864.  THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  263 

to  Nashville,  leaving  our  dead  on  the  field  and  followed 
by  the  Confederates. 

While  we  had  no  doubt  the  enemy  had  been  roughly 
handled  in  his  rash  attempt  to  carry  the  entrenched  lines 
at  Franklin,  defended  as  they  were  by  such  veteran 
soldiers  as  those  of  the  Fourth  and  Twenty-third  army 
corps,  yet  the  fact  that  the  retreat  of  our  army  had  been 
continued  to  Nashville,  where  a  great  :md  decisive  battle 
must  soon  be  fought,  caused  much  solicitude  over  the 
situation  in  Tennessee.  But  all  anxiety  was  soon  re- 
moved. Almost  at  the  moment  of  our  triumphant  entry 
into  Savannah  came  the  news  of  a  glorious  victory  at 
Nashville.  Our  comrades  had  stormed  and  carried  the 
enemy's  entrenched  lines,  captured  fifteen  thousand 
prisoners,  seventy-two  pieces  of  artillery,  seventy  stand 
of  colors,  a  large  quantity  of  small  arms  and  other  spoils 
of  the  battlefield,  while  the  scattered  fragments  of  the 
rebel  army,  impelled  by  the  instinct  of  self-preservation, 
were  flying  in  dismay  and  disorder,  never  to  appear 
again  as  an  organized  force. 

Savannah  was  an  old  place,  considered  of  such  im- 
portance at  the  time  of  the  War  of  the  Revolution  that 
it  was  besieged  in  turn  by  both  the  American  and  Brit- 
ish armies.  It  was  successfully  defended  against  an 
attack  of  the  British  in  1776,  but  two  years  later  it  fell 
into  their  possession.  In  1779  the  American  army, 
commanded  by  General  Lincoln,  with  our  French  allies, 
attempted  to  recapture  it,  but  was  defeated.  A  monu- 
ment erected  to  the  memory  of  Count  Pulaski  stands  on 
the  spot  where  he  fell  while  gallantly  leading  his  men  in 
the  assault.  Near  the  camp  of  the  Eighty-fifth  was  a  sec- 
tion of  grass  grown  earthworks,  but  their  outlines  were 


264  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          January,  1865. 

well  preserved,  said  to  have  been  erected  by  General 
Lincoln.  During  our  stay  at  that  point  this  old  em- 
bankment was  much  frequented  by  the  players  of 
"chuck-a-luck."  In  the  city  were  many  quaint  old 
buildings,  and  its  streets  were  lined  with  shade  trees  of 
rare  beauty.  At  many  of  the  street  crossings  were  small 
parks  adorned  with  the  willow-leaf  oak,  a  handsome 
evergreen,  while  in  the  large  yards  surrounding  the 
homes  of  the  well-to-do,  were  found  magnolias,  tropical 
shrubs  and  flowers  that  bloomed  the  year  round.  Bay 
street,  the  principal  thoroughfare,  was  made  beautiful 
by  the  rows  of  trees  which  divided  its  ample  width  into 
driveways. 

The  plantations  just  beyond  the  city  limits  had  been 
the  homes  of  a  wealthy  and  cultivated  society.  Gen- 
erally the  homes  had  been  left  in  charge  of  colored  ser- 
vants, and  were  filled  with  rare  books,  pictures  and  other 
evidences  of  refined  life.  Around  these  plantation 
houses  were  giant  live-oaks,  whose  great  branches,  as 
large  as  the  trunks  of  trees  in  our  own  northland,  spread 
out  wide  enough  for  a  regiment  to  hold  dress  parade 
beneath  them.  From  their  boughs  hung  in  graceful  fes- 
toons the  drooping  tillandsia,  the  long  moss  of  the 
south,  and  when  glorified  by  the  morning  sun  these  trees 
presented  a  never-to-be-forgotten  picture.  The  coast 
with  its  numerous  bays,  estuaries  and  inlets,  was  one 
continuous  bed  of  oysters,  furnishing  food  for  the  hun- 
gry and  delicacies  for  the  epicure.  The  mild  climate, 
in  which  we  saw  neither  ice  nor  snow,  was  a  luxury  not 
before  enjoyed  by  our  army.  Moreover,  it  was  obvious 
that  the  end  of  the  war  was  near. 

The  past  year  had  been  an  eventful  one,  in  which  war 


January,  1865.  THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  265 

had  been  waged  upon  a  gigantic  scale.  At  times  the 
«nemy,  with  the  energy  of  despair,  had  carried  the  in- 
vader's banner  far  northward,  to  meet  in  every  instance 
irretrievable  defeat.  In  the  east,  General  Early  led  his 
troops  almost  to  the  defenses  around  the  National  Cap- 
ital, to  be  defeated,  and  later  his  army  destroyed  by  Gen- 
eral Sheridan.  In  the  west  we  have  seen  the  army  under 
Hood  ruined  at  Nashville  by  General  Thomas,  and  be- 
yond the  Mississippi,  when  General  Sterling  Price 
assayed  the  role  of  invader,  General  Rosecrans  captured 
his  cannon,  destroyed  his  wagon  train  and  dispersed  his 
followers.  There  was,  therefore,  but  one  army  left  for 
the  defense  of  the  Confederacy,  and  that  was  held  at 
Petersburg  in  Grant's  relentless,  vice-like  grip.  Soldiers 
of  all  grades  felt  well  assured  that  when  our  army  moved 
from  Savannah  our  colors  would  point  toward  the  rebel 
capital. 

At  Savannah  one  soldier  was  heard  to  say  to  another, 
""I  hope  our  regiment  will  be  among  the  first  mustered 
out  at  the  close  of  the  war,  before  all  the  good  jobs  are 
taken."  It  is,  perhaps,  needless  to  add,  this  was  said  by 
an  Irishman.  This  raised  the  question  for  the  first  time, 
what  will  become  of  the  vast  army  of  young  men  soon  to 
be  thrown  upon  their  own  resources,  what  can  they  do 
for  a  living  when  the  United  States  ceases  to  provide  for 
the  "government  people"?  Previous  to  this,  the  uncer- 
tain duration  of  the  war,  and  the  chances  for  living 
through  it,  had  held  that  question  in  abeyance.  But 
now  the  spectre  had  been  raised,  "a  ghost  that  would  not 
down,"  and  from  that  time  to  the  end,  it  traveled  with  us 
by  night  as  well  as  by  day. 

During  our  stay  in  Atlanta  the  Ninety-second  Ohio 


266  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          January,  1865, 

infantry  occupied  a  camp  near  that  of  the  Eighty-fifth, 
and  as  this  period  was  devoted  to  almost  unbroken  rest 
throughout  the  army,  the  unusual  activity  observed  in 
that  regiment  could  not  pass  unnoticed.  Each  morn- 
ing the  camp  was  policed,  after  which  there  was  guard 
mount  and  squad  and  company  drill.  In  the  afternoon 
there  was  batallion  drill  and  in  the  evening  dress  parade. 
Indeed,  the  requirements  of  army  regulations  were 
strictly  observed,  as  fully  as  if  the  regiment  had  then  for 
the  first  time  entered  a  camp  of  instruction.  These 
things  were  recalled  when  just  before  leaving  Savannah, 
Benjamin  D.  Fearing,  colonel  of  that  regiment,  was  pro- 
moted to  the  rank  of  brigadier  general,  and  assigned  to 
the  command  of  the  Third  brigade.  General  Fearing 
was  a  lineal  descendant  of  General  Israel  Putnam, 
famous  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  of  whom  it  was 
said,  "He  dared  to  lead  where  any  dared  to  follow." 

The  troops  enjoyed  their  short  stay  in  Savannah  to 
the  utmost.  Their  duties  were  light;  they  were  allowed 
the  fullest  liberty  consistent  with  good  order,  and  there 
was  a  continual  round  of  sight-seeing  and  merry-mak- 
ing. But  the  soldiers  soon  tired  of  the  monotony  of  the 
camp;  they  missed  the  pungent  smell  of  the  piney 
woods,  and  they  longed  for  the  excitement  of  the  march. 
An  active  campaign  promised  a  change  of  scenery,  of 
duty  and  of  diet.  True  this  involved  much  marching — 
perhaps  hard  fighting,  but  it  meant  business,  and  they 
were  not  journeying  through  the  South  for  their  health. 
.All  knew  that  Savannah  was  but  one  stage  in  their  jour- 
ney to  Richmond,  and  all  were  eager  to  pay  their  re- 
spects to  the  original  secessionists — the  people  of  South 
Carolina.  They  remembered  that  her  people  had  been 


January,  1S65.  THE  MARCH  TO  THE  SEA.  267 

rebellious  subjects  for  more  than  thirty  years,  and  so  far 
they  had  escaped  the  scourge  of  war.  The  birth-place 
of  nullification  and  secession,  her  people  had  rocked  the 
cradle  of  rebellion,  and  fanned  the  sparks  of  insurrection 
into  the  flames  of  civil  war.  And  now,  that  the  state 
was  to  be  ravaged  through  its  utmost  length,  and  over 
an  average  breadth  of  forty  miles,  it  appeared  to  them 
to  be  but  a  fair  measure  of  justice. 

When  the  plan  for  the  march  north  was  conceived 
the  rebel  garrison  at  Charleston,  to  which  place  General 
Hardee  and  his  command  had  fled  when  he  evacuated 
Savannah,  was  capable  of  making  a  respectable  defense, 
while  the  broken  fragments  of  Hood's  army,  which  had 
escaped  from  Tennessee,  were  being  hurried  across 
Georgia  to  assist  in  the  defense  of  Augusta.  But  unless 
these  widely  scattered  forces  could  'be  united,  the  enemy 
would  be  utterly  unable  to  meet  our  veteran  army  in  the 
open  field.  It  was,  therefore,  the  purpose  of  General 
Sherman  to  threaten  both  Augusta  and  Charleston,  and 
when  the  widely  diverging  movement  of  the  two  wings 
of  his  army  should  leave  the  enemy  divided  and  in  doubt 
as  to  his  real  destination,  he  would  march  rapidly  on 
Columbia;  then  with  his  army  united  proceed  to 
Goldsboro,  North  Carolina,  four  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  miles  distant,  thoroughly  destroying  the  railway 
system  of  South  Carolina  on  his  way,  as  he  had  that  of 
Georgia  in  the  march  to  the  sea. 

To  accomplish  his  feint  against  Charleston,  General 
Sherman  transported  the  most  of  the  right  wing,  under 
General  Howard,  by  sea  to  Beaufort,  where  it  arrived  on 
the  loth.  At  the  same  time  a  part  of  one  corps  marched 
in  that  direction  by  the  Union  causeway.  On  Sunday, 


268  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          January,  1865. 

the  1 5th,  General  Howard  moved  his  troops  forward, 
through  mud  and  rain,  and  seized  the  Savannah  and 
Charleston  railroad  at  Pocotaligo,  twenty-five  miles  in- 
land. General  Slocum  crossed  two  divisions  of  the 
Twentieth  corps  over  the  Savannah  river,  above  the  city, 
and  occupied  Hardeeville,  a  station  on  the  same  line  of 
railway.  So  by  the  middle  of  January  our  army  had 
secured  firm  footing  in  South  Carolina,  and  was  ready  to 
begin  the  march  northward  as  soon  as  sufficient  food  and 
forage  could  be  accumulated. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 


Preparations  for  the  coming  campaign  called  forth 
every  energy,  and  the  utmost  activity  prevailed  through- 
out the  army.  But  a  rise  in  the  river  swept  away  our 
pontoon  bridge  at  Savannah,  and  General  Slocum  was 
ordered  to  move  with  the  remaining  divisions  of  the  left 
wing,  including  General  Kilpatrick's  division  of  cavalry, 
up  the  Georgia  side  of  the  river  to  Sister's  ferry,  where 
he  was  to  cross  over  and  seize  the  Augusta  and  Charles- 
ton railroad  near  Blackville.  This  railway  he  was  to 
destroy  effectually,  while  making  a  well-sustained  men- 
ace on  Augusta.  At  the  same  time  the  right  wing  was 
expected  to  strike  the  same  line  of  railroad  at  Midway, 
still  maintaining  the  feint  against  Charleston. 

The  army  numbered  sixty  thousand  men,  and  car- 
ried with  it  sixty-eight  pieces  of  artillery.  The  trains 
were  made  up  of  some  twenty-five  hundred  wagons,  with 
six  mules  to  each  wagon,  and  about  six  hundred  ambu- 


January,  1865.         CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAROLINAS.  269 

lances,  with  two  horses  each.  The  wagons  contained 
an  ample  supply  of  ammunition  for  a  great  battle,  for 
from  that  time  to  the  end,  the  possibility  of  our  having 
to  fight  a  battle  with  the  united  armies  of  the  Confeder- 
acy, should  General  Lee  escape  from  General  Grant, 
was  a  contingency  to  be  provided  for.  The  wagons  also 
contained  forage  for  seven  days,  and  provisions  for 
twenty  days,  mostly  of  bread,  coffee,  sugar  and  salt. 
The  supply  of  the  small  rations  was  generous,  but  the 
troops  were  to  depend  largely  for  breadstuff  and  meat, 
on  flour,  meal,  cattle,  hogs,  and  poultry  likely  to  be 
found  along  the  line  of  march. 

The  country  was  considered  so  difficult  that  the 
Confederate  authorities  believed  the  swamps  and 
streams  would  prove  an  impassable  barrier  to  Sherman's 
army.  It  was  like  all  the  southern  sea  board,  low  and 
sandy,  with  numerous  swamps  and  rivers.  The  streams 
are  usually  bordered  with  wide  swamps  and  approached 
by  long,  narrow  causeways  leading  to  bridge  or  ferry. 
These  causeways  could  be  defended  indefinitely  by  small 
bodies  of  troops,  who,  when  dispersed,  could  destroy  the 
bridges  and  ferry  boats,  and  obstruct  the  roads  by  felling 
trees.  The  rivers  of  South  Carolina  generally  flow  par- 
allel with  the  Savannah,  and  many  of  them  are  both 
broad  and  deep.  So  it  would  be  found  necessary  to 
march  far  into  the  interior  of  the  state,  on  the  ridges  be- 
tween the  streams,  until  near  their  headwaters,  before 
crossings  would  be  found  and  the  heads  of  column 
turned  in  the  desired  direction. 

On  January  2Oth  the  left  wing,  to  which  the  Eighty- 
fifth  belonged,  moved  out  of  Savannah  in  a  pouring  rain 
and  marched  ten  miles  on  the  Augusta  road.  At  this 


270  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.          January,  1865. 

point  we  were  mud-bound  and  water-bound  until  the 
24th,  when  we  abandoned  the  road,  and  by  struggling 
through  field  and  forest,  the  command  reached  Sister's 
ferry  on  the  28th,  having  marched  but  forty-two  miles 
in  eight  days.  To  add  to  the  difficulties  of  the  situation 
the  river  had  been  raised  by  the  continued  rains  until  it 
overflowed  its  banks,  and  at  that  time  was  about  three 
miles  wide.  A  pontoon  bridge  had  been  laid  at  this 
point,  and  was  guarded  by  the  gunboat  Pontiac.  The 
weather  cleared  on  the  next  day  and  the  river  ran  down, 
so  that  a  part  of  the  command  crossed  over  on  the  5th 
of  February.  Previous  to  crossing  we  had  to  build  tres- 
tles for  considerable  distance  and  then  corduroy  the  road 
for  tw;o  miles  and  a  half,  the  men  working  in  water  from 
ankle  to  waist  deep. 

While  marching  through  Georgia  it  was  not  unusual 
to  hear  the  citizens  say,  "Why  don't  you  all  go  over  into 
South  Carolina,  and  take,  burn  and  destroy;  her  people 
began  the  war."  Sometimes  this  was  said  with  a  sneer- 
ing', taunting  manner,  implying  that  there  we  would  find 
a  people  less  submissive,  who  would  fight  to  the  bitter 
end  and  die  in  the  last  ditch.  But  generally  we  thought 
we  could  see  that  the  people  of  Georgia  would  look  upon 
a  raid  through  their  sister  state  with  at  least  a  degree  of 
complacency.  To  this  chaffing  our  men  invariably  re- 
plied that  we  were  going  to  South  Carolina  as  fast  as  we 
could  march,  and  if  they  would  possess  their  souls  with 
patience,  they  would  soon  see  a  just  recompense  of 
reward  meted  out  to  those  who  first  set  up  the  flag  of 

rebellion. 

General  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  division  moved 
throughout  this  campaign  on  the  front  or  flank  of  the 


February,  1865.        CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAROLINAS.  271 

left  wing.  These  troopers  crossed  on  the  pontoon 
bridge  on  the  evening  of  the  7th,  and  many  of  the  Third 
brigade  were  at  the  bridge  when  they  passed  into  South 
Carolina,  and  never  were  troops  in  higher  spirits.  They 
said  that  "Wherever  we  followed  their  trail  we  would 
find  chimneys  but  no  houses;  that  their  route  would  be 
marked  by  blazing  ruins,  and  that  a  crow  in  passing  over 
their  line  of  march  would  need  to  carry  a  haversack." 
That  this  was  no  idle  boast  was  fully  established  by  the 
ravaged  country  found  whenever  we  had  the  misfortune 
to  fall  in  the  rear  of  Kilpatrick's  rough  riders. 

The  Fourteenth  corps  had  left  Savannah  without 
being  supplied  with  hard  bread,  sugar,  coffee  and  salt, 
but  while  waiting  for  the  flood  in  the  Savannah  river  to 
subside,  steamers  brought  an  abundance  of  these  rations. 
Mails  were  received  and  north-bound  mail  was  taken  by 
the  out-going  transports  until  the  last  moment. 

The  Third  brigade  left  Sister's  ferry  on  Wednesday, 
the  8th,  in  charge  of  the  corps  train,  marched  fifty  miles 
in  the  next  three  days,  and  reached  the  Charleston  and 
Augusta  railway  at  Williston  on  the  I2th.  At  a  cross 
road  near  this  place  the  guide  boards  pointed  north  to 
Barnwell  C.  H.,  south  to  Burton's  ferry,  east  to  Fiddle 
pond,  and  west  to  Augusta,  Ga.  This  railroad  was 
destroyed  for  some  thirty  miles  or  more,  while  the  cav- 
alry drove  the  enemy  to  within  twenty  miles  of  Augusta. 
At  the  same  time  our  working  parties  met  those  of  the 
right  wing,  it  having  reached  the  railway  at  or  near  Mid- 
way. When  the  destruction  of  the  road  had  been  com- 
pleted, and  the  feints  against  both  Augusta  and  Char- 
leston had  attracted  sufficient  attention  both  wings  took 
direct  roads  to  Columbia.  We  crossed  both  branches 


272  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.       February,  1865. 

of  the  Edisto  river,  meeting  no  opposition  other  than 
swamps,  until  the  I5th,  when  a  slight  skirmish  was  had 
with  Wheeler's  cavalry,  which  did  not  delay  the  march- 
ing column  a  moment.  On  the  morning  of  the  i6th  we 
arrived  in  front  of  Columbia,  within  an  hour  after  the 
arrival  of  General  Howard  and  the  right  wing.  The 
union  of  the  two  wings  of  the  army  before  the  first  ob- 
jective in  the  campaign  was  a  fine  tribute  to  the  skill  with 
which  the  widely  divergent  wings  had  been  led  and 
manoeuvred.  It  was  now  so  evident  that  the  enemy 
could  offer  no  serious  defense  at  Columbia  that  the  city 
was  left  to  the  tender  mercies  of  the  right  wing,  while  we 
moved  up  the  Saluda  river  to  Mount  Zion  church, 
where  we  laid  a  pontoon  bridge  during  the  night  and 
crossed  that  stream  the  next  morning.  On  the  I7th  we 
marched  to  Broad  river,  camping  for  the  night  at  the 
mouth  of  Wateree  creek,  where  we  learned  that  the 
right  wing  had  entered  Columbia  at  ten  o'clock  that 
morning. 

As  the  command  marched  across  the  high  land  be- 
tween the  Saluda  and  Broad  rivers,  a  very  extended  view 
of  the  country  was  afforded.  The  day  was  clear,  but  a 
perfect  tempest  of  wind  was  raging.  In  every  direction 
as  far  as  eye  could  see  fire  was  burning,  the  wind  spread- 
ing the  devouring  flames  far  and  wide.  None  had  ever 
seen  such  widespread  and  almost  universal  destruction. 
That  evening  the  ammunition  train  was  parked  near  the 
camp  of  the  Third  brigade.  While  the  preparation  of 
supper  was  in  progress  fire,  which  had  been  communi- 
cated to  the  tall  dry  grass  which  surrounded  both  camp 
and  train,  was  observed  approaching  the  wagons.  In- 
stantly a\\  realized  the  presence  of  a  new  enemy,  and  for 


^f  ATEN, 

COMPANY  G. 


273 


THE 


February,  1865.        CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAROUNAS.  275 

a  lime  it  seemed  no  possible  effort  could  arrest  the 
progress  of  the  eager  flames,  and  that  our  ammunition 
train  was  doomed.  But  by  heroic  righting  the  flames 
were  finally  subdued,  our  ammunition  saved  and  a  ter- 
rible disaster  averted. 

That  night,  while  the  tempest  was  still  raging  with 
unabated  fury,  Columbia  was  burned.  General  Sher- 
man always  claimed  that  the  retreating  rebels,  by  burn- 
ing cotton  in  the  streets,  from  which  the  fire  was  carried 
to  the  buildings  by  the  high  wind,  caused  the  burning  of 
the  city.  The  writer  has  never  been  able  to  adopt  that 
theory.  There  had  been  many  Union  prisoners  of  war 
held  in  Columbia  until  the  appearance  of  our  army  in 
front  of  the  city  caused  their  removal.  Many  of  them, 
by  concealing  themselves  in  the  city  until  our  troops 
entered,  had  been  rescued.  These  men  claimed  to  have 
been  badly  treated  by  their  captors  and  by  the  citizens  as 
well,  and  they  would  have  been  more  than  human  if  they 
had  not  embraced  the  opportunity  to  get  even.  More- 
over, some  of  them,  after  escaping  from  prison,  where 
they  had  been  almost  starved,  had  been  hunted  down 
and  recaptured  by  citizens  with  bloodhounds.  Then, 
too,  there  was  a  feeling  among  the  rank  and  file  that  the 
capital  of  the  state  first  to  adopt  the  ordinance  of  seces- 
sion, and  first  to  insult  the  flag,  should  feel  more  than  a 
passing  touch  of  war.  For  these  reasons  it  would  seem 
probable  that  if  our  men  did  not  burn  Columbia  it  was 
because  the  fire  was  accidentally  started  before  they  got 
round  to  that  which  they  considered  a  duty. 

At  Freshley's  ferry,  the  point  selected  for  crossing 
Broad  river,  that  stream  was  found  to  be  fullv  two  hun- 
dred yards  wide.  On  account  of  the  tardy  arrival  of  the 

17 


276  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.        February,  1865. 

pontoon  train  the  Third  brigade  crossed  in  flat  boats  and 
took  position  on  the  opposite  hills  to  protect  the  cross- 
ing in  the  event  of  an  attack  from  that  direction.  When 
the  pontoon  train  arrived  and  all  the  boats  had  been 
placed  in  position,  the  bridge  fell  short  by  ten  boats  of 
reaching  the  farther  shore,  and  we  had  to  await  the  ar- 
rival of  additional  pontoons.  Meanwhile  General  Cheat- 
ham,  with  a  part  of  the  remains  of  Hood's  army,  was 
crossing  the  same  stream  a  few  miles  above  in  haste  to 
unite  with  other  forces  in  our  front. 

The  man  after  whom  the  ferry  was  named  owned  a 
flouring  mill  a  short  distance  below  and  a  large  planta- 
tion half  a  mile  or  more  beyond  the  crossing.  Well 
supplied  with  wordly  goods  he  had  become  prominent 
as  a  citizen  before  the  war  and  during  its  progress  he 
acquired  notoriety  as  a  rebel.  One  of  our  men  of  an 
inquiring  turn  of  mind,  "on  investigation  bent,"  learned 
this  and  much  more  from  the  books  and  letters  found  in 
the  Freshley  mansion  before  it  accidentally  caught  fire. 
These  papers  and  books  of  account  showed  that  this 
man  held  a  commission  as  receiver  of  the  tax  levied  in 
kind  on  the  people  of  his  district  by  the  Confederate 
authorities  for  the  subsistence  of  the  rebel  armies.  Our 
men  also  learned  through  the  colored  people  that  this 
miller,  planter  and  ferryman  had  kept  a  pack  of  blood- 
hounds with  which  he  hunted  escaping  Union  prisoners 
and  ran  down  the  fleeing  slaves.  Whether  Freshley  fell 
into  the  hands  of  our  advance  or  not  the  writer  never 
knew,  but  if  he  did  the  awful  score  that  stood  against  him 
may  have  been  most  unfortunate — for  him. 

Early  on  Sunday,  the  iQth,  we  moved  toward  Alston, 
breaking  up  the  railroad  to  near  that  place.  On  the 


February,  1865.        CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAROLINAS.  277 

2  ist  we  crossed  Little  river  at  Winnsboro,  where  both 
wings  of  the  army  were  again  united,  the  right  wing 
having  destroyed  the  railway  the  entire  distance  from 
Columbia  to  Winnsboro,  where  the  army  was  now 
massed. 

Winnsboro  is  situated  on  the  South  Carolina  and 
Charlotte  railway,  thirty-nine  miles  north  of  Columbia 
and  seventy  miles  south  of  Charlotte,  N.  C.  The  move- 
ment of  the  entire  army  so  far  north  served  to  support 
the  theory  that  it  was  Sherman's  purpose  to  march  to 
Virginia  by  the  way  of  Charlotte.  To  maintain  this  de- 
lusion the  cavalry  were  boldly  pushed  up  to  within  five 
miles  of  Chester,  while  the  infantry  broke  up  the  rail- 
road almost  to  that  point. 

At  Winnsboro  there  was  a  rigid  inspection  of  the 
wagon  trains,  and  all  surplus  baggage  was  thrown  out 
and  burned.  This  was  rendered  necessary  because  every 
wagon  would  be  needed  in  the  conveyance  of  grain  and 
forage  for  the  animals  while  marching  through  the  very 
difficult  and  barren  country  the  army  was  now  about  to 
enter.  "Soldiers,"  says  the  cynic,  "may  live  on  enthusi- 
asm, but  horses  and  mules  must  have  oats."  Here,  too, 
many  broken-down  horses  and  mules  were  shot,  rather 
than  abandon  them  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
This  was  a  sad  duty,  for  the  men  had  long  since  learned 
to  admire  the  patient  endurance  of  those  much  abused 
partners  of  adversity. 

Next  in  importance  in  the  army,  after  the  health  and 
efficiency  of  the  men,  is  the  condition  of  the  mules.  At 
this  period  of  the  war  the  Federal  government  was  the 
largest  mule  owner  in  the  world,  and  in  a  campaign  like 
the  present  their  endurance  was  tested  to  the  utmost 


278  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.        February,  1865. 

limit.  Without  ancestry  or  hope  of  posterity  this  curi- 
ous animal  is  the  puzzle  of  the  brute  creation.  A  past- 
master  in  devilment,  he  abounds  in  cunning  while  his 
solemn  visage  tends  to  disarm  suspicion.  He  appears 
to  have  been  born  old  in  iniquity ;  an  appearance  which 
the  dexterity  of  his  heels  and  roguish  tricks  seem  to  con- 
firm. Always  longing  for  something  to  eat,  he  prefers 
forbidden  or  stolen  food,  but  on  occasion  can  go  for  days 
without  food  or  water.  The  most  disreputable  in  ap- 
pearance, he  is  the  most  useful  of  all  the  dumb  toilers 
whom  man  holds  in  unending  slavery.  Steady,  method- 
ical work  suits  the  mule,  and  he  seems  to  know  the  na- 
ture of  the  emergency  as  well  as  his  driver  does.  His 
great  sad  eyes  may  have  a  distressed  look;  his  gaunt 
flanks  throb,  but  there  is  no  lagging.  Driven  by  whip 
and  spur  on  half  or  quarter  feed  until  they  drop  from 
exhaustion,  thousands  of  mules  were  left  to  die  in  the 
mud  holes  in  which  they  fell.  A  man  can  give  vent  to 
his  sufferings;  he  can  ask  for  help;  he  can  find  some  re- 
lief in  crying,  praying  or  swearing,  but  for  the  poor 
abandoned  mule  there  was  no  help — no  hope. 

On  the  22nd  the  Second  division  moved  in  charge  of 
the  corps  train,  and  for  the  next  few  days  the  rain  fell 
almost  constantly,  the  road  seemed  bottomless  and 
wherever  a  wagon  moved  the  road  had  to  be  corduroyed. 
We  reached  the  Catawba  river  at  Rocky  Mount  Post- 
office,  on  the  evening  of  the  23rd.  and  on  the  completion 
of  the  pontoon  bridge  the  Second  division  crossed  over. 
Then  the  bridge  parted,  leaving  the  other  divisions  and 
the  corps  train  on  the  other  bank.  At  this  point  were 
encountered  the  greatest  difficulties.  A  broad,  turbu- 
lent and  rapidly  rising  river  separated  the  command, 


Feb  nary,  1865.        CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAROLINAS.  279 

which  was  the  left  and  exposed  flank  of  the  army,  while 
the  other  corps,  more  fortunate  in  their  crossing,  were 
pushing  for  Cheraw,  on  the  Great  Pedee  river.  When 
the  general  commanding  learned  the  awkward  situation 
confronting  the  Fourteenth  corps  he  authorized  General 
Davis  to  destroy  his  trains.  But  no  one  in  the  command 
would  sanction  this  except  as  a  last  resort.  Again  and 
again  the  bridge  was  swept  away  by  the  rising  stream 
and  the  flooring  lost,  but  fortunately  all  the  boats  save 
two  were  recovered,  and  material  to  replace  the  lost 
flooring  was  obtained  by  tearing  down  the  buildings 
near  the  crossing.  Finally,  about  midnight  of  the  27th, 
the  bridge  was  reconstructed  and  the  trains,  without  the 
loss  of  a  single  wagon,  crossed  over,  followed  by  the 
other  divisions  belonging  to  the  corps.  The  unfortu- 
nate, but  wholly  unavoidable  delay  of  the  Fourteenth 
corps,  had  checked  the  progress  of  the  whole  army  at  a 
time  when  an  effort  was  being  made  for  a  rapid  concen- 
tration of  the  army  at  Cheraw. 

Between  the  Catawba,  the  Wateree,  and  the  Great 
Pedee  rivers,  our  line  of  march  led  us  through  a  country 
rich  in  memories  of  the  War  of  the  Revolution.  We 
were  told  that  Lord  Cornwallis  with  his  command 
crossed  the  Catawba  at  the  place  the  Fourteenth  corps 
found  such  a  difficult  crossing.  But  a  short  distance  to 
our  right  was  the  battlefield  of  Camden,  where  the  brave 
Baron  DeKalb  fell  fighting  in  the  patriot's  cause.  On 
the  first  day  of  March  we  took  dinner  on  the  field  where 
troops  under  General  Gates  had  an  engagement  with  the 
British  under  Colonel  Tarleton,  and  the  swamps  bor- 
dering the  streams  were  made  forever  famous  by  the  ad- 
ventures of  General  Marion  and  his  dashing  rangers. 


280  HISTORY  OF  THE  S5TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  1865, 

By  a  forced  march  we  made  seventy-two  miles  in  the 
four  days  next  after  leaving  the  Catawba  river,  over 
roads  that  had  to  be  corduroyed  almost  the  entire  dis- 
tance. One  night  the  Third  brigade  marched  all  night 
long,  arriving  in  camp  just  as  the  head  of  column  moved 
out  on  the  new  day's  march.  The  command,  of  which 
the  Eighty-fifth  was  a  part,  reached  the  Great  Peclee 
river,  eight  miles  north  of  Cheraw,  on  the  3rd  of  March, 
the  same  day  that  the  right  wing  entered  that  city.  At 
Cheraw  General  Howard  captured  twenty-eight  pieces 
of  artillery,  three  thousand  stand  of  small  arms,  and  an 
immense  quantity  of  ammunition  and  stores.  Many  of 
the  captured  stores  belonged  to  private  parties  who  had 
moved  them  to  Cheraw  for  safe  keeping  when  General 
Hardee  evacuated  Charleston.  The  left  wing  of  the 
army  remained  quietly  in  camp  in  the  vicinity  of  Sneeds- 
boro,  while  a  bridge  was  thrown  across  the  river,  and 
until  the  right  wing  moved  north  from  Cheraw. 

Stung  into  activity  by  the  overwhelming  disaster 
threatening  the  Confederacy  the  rebel  authorities  put 
forth  every  effort  to  concentrate  a  force  capable  of  meet- 
ing Sherman's  army  in  the  field.  General  Hampton 
with  his  cavalry  division  hastened  to  join  Hardee  in  his 
retreat  from  Cheraw  to  Fayetteville,  while  Joseph  E. 
Johnston  was  called  from  retirement  and  placed  in 
supreme  command  of  all  the  troops  supposed  to  be  avail- 
able to  stay  the  triumphant  march.  General  Johnston 
was  at  this  time  at  Charlotte  trying  to  form  an  army  out 
of  the  remnants  of  Hood's  army,  local  garrisons  and  the 
militia  of  North  Carolina,  with  which  to  meet  and  turn 
the  invader  back.  Energetic,  skillful  and  courageous, 
he  only  lacked  an  army  to  make  him  a  foe  to  be  dreaded. 


March,  1865.  CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAROLINAS.  281 

The  news  of  Johnston's  assignment  to  command  was 
received  by  our  army  as  notice  to  be  prepared  for  well- 
planned,  stubborn  resistance.  Officers  and  men  agreed 
that  the  Confederate  government  had  at  last  taken  a  wise 
step,  although  they  felt  equally  sure  that  it  was  too  late 
for  even  Johnston  to  stop  the  progress  of  Sherman's 
army. 

The  Great  Pedee  is  three  hundred  yards  wide  where 
we  crossed  just  below  Sneedsboro,  and  required  for  a 
bridge  forty-two  canvas  boats.  The  crossing  was  com- 
pleted and  the  pontoons  lifted  and  loaded  on  the  evening 
of  the  /th,  and  the  next  day  we  crossed  the  line  into  the 
state  of  North  Carolina,  fourteen  miles  south  of  Rock- 
ingham.  On  the  9th  we  crossed  Lumber  river  (Little 
Pedee)  at  Graham's  bridge  in  a  very  heavy  rain.  A 
resin  factory  was  burning  just  above  the  bridge,  and  as 
our  column  passed  over  the  surface  of  the  water  was 
ablaze  with  burning  resin  and  turpentine,  presenting  in 
the  pouring  rain  a  weird,  uncanny  sight.  The  command 
reached  the  plank  road  leading  to  Fayetteville  at  Thirty- 
five  Mile  Post. 

About  the  beginning  of  the  present  campaign  Gen- 
eral Wade  Hampton  had  been  sent  from  Virginia  to  take 
command  of  the  Confederate  cavalry  in  South  Carolina 
in  the  hope  that  his  great  personal  influence  would 
arouse  the  people  of  that  state  to  energetic  action  in  de- 
fense of  their  homes,  and  thus  do  what  the  most  fervent 
appeals  had  so  signally  failed  to  accomplish  in  Georgia. 
But  the  people,  almost  frantic  from  fear,  refused  to  rally 
to  his  standard,  and  so  far  the  magic  of  his  great  name 
had  not  checked  the  advance  of  Sherman's  army.  Com- 
ing as  the  especial  champion  of  South  Carolina,  Hamp- 


282  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  1865. 

ton  had  been  driven  from  her  capital,  the  city  of  his 
home,  and  expelled  from  his  native  state,  without  fight- 
ing a  single  battle.  In  the  retreat  from  Cheraw  to  Fay- 
etteville  he  had  been  deceived  into  moving  too  far  north, 
and  on  the  evening  of  the  Qth,  in  his  effort  to  rejoin  Har- 
clee,  he  unexpectedly  found  Kilpatrick's  cavalry  division 
interposed  between  his  command  and  the  infantry  col- 
umn he  was  seeking  to  overtake.  Thinking  he  saw  an 
opportunity  to  surprise  Kilpatrick  by  a  night  attack,  and 
hoping  in  the  sudden  onset  to  disperse  or  capture  his 
clashing  troopers,  Hampton  made  his  plan  to  attack  be- 
fore daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  loth.  The  plan  was 
well  conceived,  the  movement  up  to  the  moment  of 
attack  skilfully  concealed,  and  the  resulting  surprise 
complete.  But  Kilpatrick  and  his  men  were  apt  to  de- 
velop unexpected  resources  in  the  rough-and-tumble 
fight,  and  it  required  but  a  short  time  for  them  to  rally, 
when  they  routed  the  enemy  by  a  return  charge. 

The  Second  division  was  moving  on  the  extreme  left 
of  the  infantry  column,  and  the  evening  of  the  gth, 
camped  about  four  miles  south  of  Kilpatrick.  Between 
two  and  three  o'clock  on  the  next  morning,  the  noise  of 
a  furious  battle  broke  out  in  the  direction  of  the  cavalry 
camp.  The  artillery  firing  was  heavy  and  continued, 
giving  notice  of  more  than  the  ordinary  affair  between 
outposts,  and  the  Second  brigade  was  hurried  off  in  the 
direction  of  the  conflict,  while  the  other  brigades  of  the 
division  resumed  the  march  with  the  utmost  unconcern. 
That  night  when  the  Second  brigade  rejoined  the  divis- 
ion we  learned  that  Kilpatrick  had  been  surprised,  his 
headquarters,  his  artillery  and  many  of  his  men  captured 
in  the  first  onset.  But  while  the  exulting  enemy  was  en- 


March,  1865.  CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAROUNAS.  283 

gaged  in  plundering  headquarters,  and  trying  to  harness 
the  horses  to  the  batteries,  Kilpatrick  rallied  his  men  and 
charged  the  foe,  recovering  his  headquarters,  recaptur- 
ing his  artillery  and  driving  the  enemy  from  his  camp 
with  heavy  loss,  before  the  arrival  of  the  infantry  brigade 
sent  to  his  relief. 

Meeting  General  Kilpatrick  many  years  ago  he  told 
the  writer  some  interesting  details  omitted  from  the 
official  report  of  that  rough-and-tumble  fight.  The 
general  said,  "On  the  evening  before  the  fight  we  ran 
into  the  rear  of  General  Hardee's  column,  and  from  pris- 
oners captured  learned  that  Hardee  was  rapidly  retreat- 
ing to  Fayetteville,  and  that  Hampton  with  the  cavalry 
was  a  few  miles  in  the  rear,  but  rapidly  moving  on  the 
same  point.  Upon  receiving  this  information,  I  deter- 
mined to  intercept  him,  and  prevent  his  force  from  unit- 
ing with  that  of  Hardee.  I  posted  one  brigade  at  a  ham- 
let called  Solemn  Grove,  on  the  Morgantown  road, 
another  brigade  on  a  road  some  three  miles  north,  and 
the  third  brigade  some  three  miles  southeast,  at  the  point 
where  the  last  mentioned  road  intersects  the  road  to 
Morgantown.  That  night  I  slept  in  a  house  at  the  inter- 
section of  the  roads.  Toward  morning  I  became  rest- 
less, got  up  and  stepped  out  on  the  porch,  where  I  was 
standing  in  my  nightshirt,  when  several  men  dressed  in 
our  uniform  rode  up  and  inquired  for  General  Kilpat- 
rick's  headquarters.  Something  in  the  tone  of  voice, 
perhaps,  aroused  my  suspicion,  and  I  promptly  replied, 
"Down  the  road  about  half  a  mile,"  and  away  they  went. 
Just  then  I  saw  the  enemy  in  force  coming  on  the  charge, 
and  I  ran  around  the  corner  of  the  house  and  in  the  direc- 
tion of  a  swamp.  Soon  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  catch  a 


284  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  1865, 

horse  and  mounting  bareback  rallied  a  few  men  and 
began  to  fight.  The  sound  of  our  firing  made  a  rallying 
point  for  our  men,  and  very  soon  I  had  a  charging  col- 
umn formed.  The  rebels  struck  our  artillery  park  in 
their  charge,  which  broke  them  up  rather  badly  and  ob- 
serving that  they  were  intent  on  plunder,  and  widely 
scattered,  the  charge  was  sounded  and  after  a  sharp 
fight,  we  drove  the  enemy  from  the  field." 

On  the  loth,  the  Third  brigade  had  charge  of  the 
division  train,  and  soon  after  leaving  camp  the  rain  be- 
gan to  fall  in  torrents,  the  earth  seemed  to  melt  under 
our  feet,  and  that  day  and  night  we  corduroyed  the  road 
for  the  greater  part  of  twelve  miles.  Layer  after  layer 
of  corduroy  disappeared  in  the  ooze,  and  it  required  the 
best  efforts  of  both  men  and  officers  to  move  the  train 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  wagons  over  the  weary  miles  of 
quicksand.  Officers  and  men  were  compelled  to  work 
through  the  whole  night  in  pouring  rain,  and  in  mud  and 
water  from  one  to  three  feet  deep,  but  the  hardy  Union 
warriors  lifted  the  wagons  out  of  the  mire,  and  landed 
the  train  in  the  division  camp  at  eight  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  nth.  Here  we  rested  an  hour  for 
breakfast,  and  then  pushed  on  to  Fayetteville,  arriving 
there  at  two  o'clock  that  afternoon. 

On  approaching  Fayetteville,  the  Fourteenth  corps 
was  designated  to  enter  first  and  the  Third  division  hav- 
ing the  advance  on  that  day,  with  but  a  slight  skirmish, 
took  possession  of  the  city  about  noon,  the  enemy  under 
Hardee  retreating  in  the  direction  of  Raleigh.  Seventeen 
pieces  of  artillery  and  many  small  arms  were  captured 
and  the  U.  S.  arsenal,  basely  surrendered  by  a  treacher- 
ous officer  at  the  beginning  of  the  war,  was  recaptured. 


March,  1865.  CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAROLINAS.  285 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 


Fayetteville  is  situated  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Cape 
Fear  river  and  at  the  head  of  navigation.  It  is  one  hun- 
dred and  thirty  miles  from  the  sea,  and  ninety-five  miles 
from  Wilmington.  In  addition  to  the  arms  and  ammu- 
nition captured  with  the  arsenal,  there  were  cotton  mills 
and  iron  foundries  engaged  in  manufacturing  supplies 
for  the  Confederate  army.  On  Sunday,  the  day  follow- 
ing our  occupation  of  the  city,  a  steamer  arrived  from 
Wilmington  with  the  news  that  General  Terry  had  cap- 
tured that  place,  and  that  a  force  under  General  Scho- 
field  was  moving  from  New  Berne  to  join  General  Sher- 
man at  Goldsboro.  Other  steamers  and  gunboats  ar- 
rived during  our  stay,  which  served  to  put  us  in  touch 
with  the  United  States  once  more. 

While  at  Fayetteville,  General  Sherman  caused  the 
total  destruction  of  the  arsenal  and  the  extensive 
machinery  which  had  been  removed  to  that  place  from 
the  old  United  States  armory  at  Harper's  Ferry,  and 
since  used  in  the  manufacture  and  repair  of  arms  for  the 
Confederate  government.  The  iron  foundries  and  cot- 
ton mills  were  also  effectually  destroyed,  but  little  or  no 
damage  was  done  to  private  property.  While  marching 
through  South  Carolina,  the  troops  seemed  to  feel  that 
upon  them  devolved  the  duty  of  punishing  the  inhabi- 
tants for  their  life-long  hostility  to  the  Federal  Union, 
and  they  plundered  and  destroyed  practically  without 
let  or  hindrance.  But  from  the  moment  of  entering 
North  Carolina,  the  indiscriminate  destruction  of  private 
property  ceased,  the  demeanor  of  the  whole  army 


286  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  1865. 

changed,  and  the  men  willingly  yielded  to  the  custom- 
ary restraints  of  discipline. 

Up  to  this  time  Sherman  had  been  successful  in  inter- 
posing his  army  between  the  widely  scattered  forces  of 
the  enemy.  But  the  garrison  at  Augusta,  reinforced 
by  fragments  of  Hood's  army  under  General  Cheatham, 
had  been  given  ample  time  to  join  the  rebel  force  being 
organized  in  the  vicinity  of  Raleigh.  Hardee  had  also 
retreated  in  that  direction  and  General  Bragg  was  fall- 
ing back  across  our  front,  with  an  army  of  uncertain 
numbers,  before  the  advance  of  Generals  Terry  and 
Schofield.  These  forces,  when  once  united  under  a 
leader  so  skillful  as  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  would 
constitute  an  army  strong  enough  in  numbers  to  justify 
extreme  caution  in  the  last  stage  of  the  campaign.  In 
order,  therefore,  to  be  prepared  for  anv  emergency,  two 
divisions  of  each  corps  were  stripped  of  their  trains,  ex- 
cept the  wagons  necessary  to  carry  an  ample  supply  of 
ammunition,  and  the  trains,  guarded  by  the  remaining 
divisions  were  sent  on  the  most  direct  route  to  Golds- 
boro.  This  gave  to  each  wing  four  unencumbered  divi- 
sions ready  for  instant  battle. 

The  trains  of  the  Fourteenth  corps  were  placed  in 
charge  of  General  Baird,  commanding  the  Third  divi- 
sion, and  the  Eighty-fifth  was  detailed  as  train  guard,  to 
accompany  his  command.  The  entire  army  moved  on 
the  1 5th  except  the  train  guard,  which  was  delayed  in 
taking  up  the  pontoons  until  the  next  morning.  The 
cavalry  in  advance  of  the  left  wing  soon  encountered 
more  than  the  usual  opposition,  and  before  night  on  the 
first  day  out  had  to  call  up  the  infantry  supports.  By 
noon  on  the  i6th,  Hardee  was  found  with  cavalry,  infan- 


March,  1865.  CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAROLINAS.  287 

try  and  artillery  in  position,  and  strongly  entrenched 
near  Averysboro.  His  position  covered  the  road  to 
Goldsboro,  and  it  was  necessary  to  drive  him  from  this 
road  in  order  to  secure  it,  as  well  as  to  maintain  the 
threat  against  Raleigh.  In  the  stubborn  action  which 
ensued  tHat  afternoon  Rhett's  brigade  of  South  Carolina 
troops  was  unceremoniously  overthrown,  his  battery  of 
three  pieces  of  artillery  and  most  of  his  men  captured. 
During  the  night  Hardee  retreated  toward  Raleigh,  and 
the  next  day  the  left  wing  turned  toward  Goldsboro,  in- 
tending to  make  a  rapid  march  direct  to  that  point,  with- 
out paying  further  attention  to  the  enemy,  who  still  men- 
aced the  left  flank.  In  the  battle  of  Averysboro,  our 
wounded  numbered  four  hundred  and  seventy-seven,  a 
very  serious  loss,  when  it  is  remembered  that  every  man 
had  to  be  carried  in  the  ambulance  train. 

Believing  that  the  feint  against  Raleigh  had  led  Har- 
dee to  make  his  stubborn  fight  at  Averysboro  for  the 
purpose  of  gaining  time  for  General  Johnston  to  con- 
centrate his  forces  in  front  of  the  state  capital,  General 
Sherman  directed  the  entire  army  to  march  as  rapidly  as 
possible  to  Goldsboro.  After  burying  the  dead  at 
Averysboro,  the  left  wing  marched  on  a  single  road  in 
that  direction,  while  the  right  wing  and  trains  moved  on 
the  same  place,  but  on  roads  some  distance  south  and 
east.  No  opposition  was  encountered  on  the  I7th,  and 
after  marching  eight  miles  over  horrible  roads,  the  Four- 
teenth corps  camped  two  miles  east  of  Mingo  creek. 

Saturday,  the  i8th,  the  Second  division  had  the  ad- 
vance of  the  corps,  arid  the  foragers  under  command  of 
Major  J.  T.  Holmes,  of  the  Fifty-second  Ohio,  drove  the 
enemy  to  Bushy  swamp,  where  he  was  found  in  position 


288  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  1865. 

from  which  he  opened  with  artillery.  The  division  was 
quickly  deployed  and  drove  the  enemy  from  his  position, 
and  went  into  camp  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  by 
the  direct  order  of  General  Sherman.  During  the  day 
mounted  men  were  almost  constantly  seen  near  the  line 
of  march,  sometimes  in  groups  at  the  openings  in  the 
woods,  at  other  times  single  horsemen  watching  the 
troops  on  the  road ;  all  passing  toward  the  head  of  the 
column,  or  working  their  way  through  the  woods  to 
gain  by  close  view  the  number  of  our  men.  In  the 
evening  reconnoitering  parties  were  sent  out  who  found 
nothing  but  cavalry  videttes,  who  fled  beyond  Mill 
creek,  burning  the  bridge  behind  them. 

Sunday  morning,  the  iQth,  gave  promise  of  a  beauti- 
ful day.  For  almost  the  first  time  in  weeks  the  sun  was 
shining,  and,  in  that  southern  latitude,  it  was  the  recur- 
ring season  of  foliage  and  flowers,  and  fruit  trees  were  in 
full  bloom  around  the  infrequent  farm  houses.  But  the 
morning  so  clear  and  calm,  like  many  a  Sunday  in  the 
army,  was  destined  to  be  a  day  of  deadly  conflict. 

For  several  days  General  Sherman  had  been  march- 
ing with  the  left  wing,  and  his  headquarters  had  been 
with  the  Fourteenth  corps.  But  he  was  so  confident  that 
his  threat  against  Raleigh  had  forced  General  Johnston 
to  concentrate  his  forces  for  battle  at  that  place,  that  he 
started  to  ride  over  to  the  right  wing,  as  soon  as  the  ad- 
vance began  on  Sunday  morning.  The  dense  timber 
through  which  he  rode  shut  out  the  sound  of  battle,  and 
he  did  not  learn  of  the  struggle  in  which  the  left  wing 
was  engaged  until  overtaken  by  a  courier  that  night. 

The  foragers  found  the  enemy  within  five  hundred 
yards  of  camp  that  morning,  and  soon  these  renowned 


March,  1865.  CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAROUNAS.  289 

warriors,  who  usually  made  short  work  of  dispersing  a 
line  of  rebel  cavalry,  became  discouraged,  and  sullenly 
fell  back  behind  our  skirmishers.  One  brigade  after  an- 
other was  brought  up  and  deployed,  until  the  whole  of 
the  First  division  was  in  line  of  battle,  yet  everywhere  it 
found  the  enemy  strong,  and  his  resistance  as  determined 
as  it  was  unexpected.  In  front  of  the  left  of  the  line  was  a 
swamp  of  a  depth  then  unknown,  while  on  the  right  front 
the  ground  was  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  black- 
jack and  pine  trees.  General  Slocum,  commanding  the 
left  wing,  was  present  with  the  advance,  and  under  his 
orders  General  Carlin  advanced  his  line  to  ascertain  the 
enemy's  intention  and  develop  his  position.  After  a  sharp 
fight,  a  line  of  the  enemy's  infantry  was  routed,  when  sud- 
denly the  whole  line  dashed  against  a  line  of  earthworks, 
manned  with  infantry  and  abundantly  supplied  with  artil- 
lery. From  this  line  the  enemy  opened  such  a  destruc- 
tive fire  that  our  whole  line  was  repulsed  with  heavy  loss. 
By  this  time,  the  Second  division  arrived,  and  the 
First  and  Second  brigades  were  placed  on  the  right,  with 
the  Third  brigade  massed  in  reserve.  No  sooner  had 
these  dispositions  been  made  than  the  entire  line  was 
assailed  with  the  utmost  impetuosity,  and  at  once  the 
engagement  became  general.  The  advancing  lines  of 
the  eager  enemy  far  outreached  the  left  of  General  Car- 
lin's  line,  and  the  first  division,  already  much  weakened 
by  the  stubborn  work  of  the  morning,  began  to  retire, 
the  men  fighting  desperately  as  they  retreated  slowly. 
This  was  the  critical  period  of  the  battle.  The  Twen- 
tieth corps  was  hurrying  to  the  front,  but  yet  too  far  in 
the  rear  to  render  any  assistance  in  the  present  crisis. 
The  First  and  Second  brigades  were  holding  their  own, 


290  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  1865. 

which  made  the  Third  brigade  available  for  the  desper- 
ate task  of  turning  back  the  victorious  foe  on  the  left. 

The  Third  brigade  was  standing  in  columns  of  regi- 
ments faced  to  the  front,  and  when  the  left  began  to  give 
way,  our  corps  commander,  General  Davis,  ordered  Gen- 
eral Fearing  to  swing  the  brigade  to  the  left  and  to 
charge  the  enemy  in  flank.  The  scene  was  dramatic; 
the  general's  orders  were  given  with  confidence  and  en- 
ergy, and  officers  and  men  were  alike  inspired  by  the  en- 
thusiasm of  their  commander,  and  they  struck  the  enemy 
a  stunning  blow.  In  a  moment  the  brigade  was  in  the 
vortex  of  battle  and  engaged  in  a  fierce  and  deadly  con- 
flict. As  it  advanced  its  right  became  exposed,  but  for- 
tunately Cogswell's  brigade  of  the  Twentieth  corps,  ar- 
rived after  marching  the  whole  of  the  previous  night  and 
moved  in  on  Fearing's  right.  The  men  of  these  two 
brigades — Fearing's  and  Cogswell's — seemed  to  feel 
that  upon  them  devolved  the  desperate  honor  of  stem- 
ming the  tide  of  defeat  and  turning  it  into  victory,  and 
after  a  fierce  and  bloody  contest,  the  enemy  gave  way 
and  fell  back  in  confusion.  So  resistless  had  been  the 
unexpected  attack  of  these  two  brigades,  that  the 
enemy's  whole  line  gave  up  the  ground  it  had  gained, 
and  the  battle  ceased  along  the  entire  front. 

But  none  doubted  that  the  enemy  would  return  to 
the  assault,  and  the  entire  line  rapidly  threw  up  a  line  of 
defenses.  General  Morgan,  with  the  two  brigades  on 
the  right,  had  not  only  held  his  ground,  but  had  also 
punished  the  enemy  severely.  Carlin's  troops,  veterans 
all  of  them,  were  easily  rallied  on  a  new  line,  with  their 
left  sharply  refused,  and  artillery  was  brought  up  and 
placed  in  position  on  commanding  ground.  While  en- 


DK.    P.  L.    DIKFFKNnACHKR. 


291 


Of 

UNIVERSITY 


March,  1865.  CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAROLINAS.  293 

gaged  in  building  rude  works  during  the  lull  in  battle, 
the  men  expressed  a  lively  satisfaction  at  the  prospect  of 
righting  behind  field-works — a  thing  that  had  rarely 
fallen  to  their  lot,  and  they  seemed  to  thoroughly  enjoy 
the  prospect.  Ammunition  was  brought  up,  and  piled 
in  convenient  places  along  the  line,  and  every  prepara- 
tion made  for  the  most  stubborn  defense. 

It  was  about  five  o'clock  when  the  long  line  of  the 
enemy  emerged  from  the  pine  woods  beyond  the  fields. 
It  was  a  magnificent  spectacle;  every  company  present- 
ing a  parade  front ;  every  foot  keeping  time,  while  not  a 
skulker  left  that  splendid  line.  It  was  a  sight  that  even 
veteran  soldiers  seldom  see.  But  when  the  enemy  came 
within  short  range,  he  met  a  deadly  fire  which  checked ; 
then  drove  him  back.  Again  and  again,  he  rallied  and 
surged  forward;  but  he  could  not  pass  a  certain  point. 
Each  assault  was  more  hopeless  than  the  one  preceding, 
and  finally  the  rebel  line  rolled  back  into  the  woods,  leav- 
ing his  killed  and  wounded  piled  thick  upon  the  bloody 
field. 

In  the  desperate  conflict  following  the  charge  of  the 
Third  brigade,  General  Fearing  was  severely  wounded, 
and,  from  loss  of  blood,  was  compelled  to  leave  the  field. 
When  retiring,  he  left  the  brigade  in  command  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Langley,  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-fifth  Illinois.  This  was  the  second  time  this  gal- 
lant and  meritorious  officer  had  been  called  to  assume 
command  of  the  brigade  in  the  indescribable  turmoil  of 
battle,  and  well  and  faithfully  did  he  perform  his  duty. 
General  Fearing  was  the  fourth  commander  to  fall  while 
leading  the  Third  brigade  in  action  within  less  than  a 
year. 

18 


294  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  1865. 

Along  the  line  of  the  First  and  Second  brigades  the 
fighting  was  no  less  severe.  The  First  brigade,  after 
repulsing  the  first  attack,  leaped  over  their  works,  pur- 
sued the  retreating  rebels  into  their  own  works,  and  cap- 
tured the  colors  of  the  Fortieth  North  Carolina  regi- 
ment. Then  followed  an  incident  rarely  found  in  the 
annals  of  war.  A  column  of  the  enemy  had  passed 
through  the  interval  between  the  left  of  the  First  and 
Second  brigades  and  the  right  of  Cogswell  and  Fearing. 
Then  swinging  to  the  left,  this  column  assailed  the  line 
of  Mitchell  and  Vandever  from  the  rear.  But  the  men 
quickly  passed  over  to  the  reverse  side  of  their  works, 
and  after  a  sharp  and  bloody  struggle,  repulsed  this  rear 
attack.  As  the  enemy  began  to  retreat  our  men  again 
leaped  their  works  and  charged  to  the  rear ;  captured  the 
colors  of  the  Fifty-fourth  Virginia ;  took  a  large  number 
of  prisoners,  and  dispersed  the  intruding  force. 

The  struggle  was  unequal  throughout  the  day,  and 
at  times  it  seemed  the  enemy  would  overwhelm  our  small 
force,  by  sheer  force  of  numbers.  In  the  last  engage- 
ment every  man  was  placed  in  the  firing  line — even  the 
headquarter's  guard  and  the  small  detachment  guarding 
the  ammunition  train  filled  a  gap  in  the  extended  line. 
No  further  reinforcements  could  be  hoped  for  that  day, 
and  there  was  nothing  left  but  for  the  men  to  fight  it  out. 
But  when  night  came,  the  enemy  had  been  decisively  re- 
pulsed at  all  points,  and  the  weary  troops  lay  down  to 
rest  upon  their  arms,  ready  to  renew  the  contest  at  a 
moment's  warning,  and  well  assured  that  Sherman  and 
the  right  wing  would  be  with  them  by  daylight  the  next 
morning. 

With  the  repulse  of  his  last  assault,  General  John- 


March,  1865.  CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAROLINAS.  295 

ston's  declared  purpose  of  destroying1  Sherman's  army, 
by  crushing  one  corps  after  another  in  its  isolation, 
failed.  On  the  iQth  he  outnumbered  our  available  force 
at  least  three  to  one,  but  by  daylight  on  the  morning  of 
the  2Oth,  the  forces  were  equalized  by  the  arrival  of  Gen- 
eral Hazen's  division  of  the  right  wing,  and  four  brig- 
ades called  up  from  the  wagon-train  guard.  And  before 
night  General  Sherman  with  his  whole  army  was  closing 
down  on  the  enemy's  entrenched  lines.  There  was 
some  sharp  skirmishing  on  the  2ist,  as  the  enemy's  line 
was  developed,  but  that  night  General  Johnston  quit  a 
position  no  longer  tenable,  and  retreated  to  Smithfield. 
In  this  instance,  as  in  all  others  during  the  war,  this  skill- 
ful Confederate  commander  made  a  safe  retreat,  leaving 
nothing  behind  except  his  unburied  dead  and  the 
wounded  in  his  field  hospitals. 

The  Union  losses  in  the  battle  of  Bentonville  fell 
largely  on  the  Fourteenth  corps,  and  were  mostly  in- 
curred in  the  fighting  of  the  first  day.  The  aggregate 
loss  to  the  left  wing  was  1247,  of  which  the  Twentieth 
corps  lost  314,  and  the  Fourteenth  corps  933,  the  Second 
division  bearing  more  than  one-half  of  the  last  men- 
tioned loss.  As  usual,  the  rebel  commander  made  no 
report  of  his  losses,  but  we  buried  267  of  his  dead,  and 
captured  1,625  prisoners. 

The  official  reports  all  speak  in  the  highest  praise  of 
the  conduct  of  our  officers  and  men.  General  Davis 
especially  requested  the  promotion  of  Brigadier  General 
Morgan,*  which  request  was  heartily  endorsed  by  Gen- 
eral Sherman,  and  within  a  few  days  after  the  battle  of 
Bentonville  the  commander  of  the  Second  division  re- 


*  Rebellion  Records,  Serial  No.  98,  page  437. 


296  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  1865. 

ceived  the  brevet  rank  of  major  general.  General  Fearing 
was  unstinted  in  his  commendation  of  the  men  of  the 
Third  brigade,  giving  them  great  credit  for  their  accu- 
rate aim  and  low  firing.*  * 

On  the  22nd  the  whole  army  resumed  the  march  to 
Goldsboro,  where  it  arrived  and  went  into  camp  on  the 
following  evening.  Since  leaving  Savannah  the  left 
wing,  of  which  the  Eighty-fifth  was  a  part,  had  marched 
five  hundred  miles,  through  a  country  noted  for  its  broad 
rivers,  bad  roads  and  almost  impassable  swamps.  The 
almost  daily  rains  had  swelled  the  streams,  and  the 
heavy  wagon-trains  churned  the  soft  dirt  into  sloughs 
of  bottomless  mud.  But  in  all  that  long  march  we 
found  no  mud  deep  enough,  no  hills  steep  enough,  and 
no  quicksands  treacherous  enough,  to  prevent  the  tak- 
ing of  our  trains  wherever  the  column  was  ordered  to 
move.  It  was  not  unusual  to  be  compelled  to  corduroy 
four  or  five  miles  of  road  covered  in  a  day's  march,  and 
in  the  construction  of  corduroy  roads,  the  men  soon  be- 
came very  proficient.  Fortunately  the  material  was 
usually  found  in  abundance  and  near  by.  Pine  saplings, 
eight  to  ten  inches  through  the  cut,  split  in  two,  and  laid 
face  down  closely  touching  each  other,  made  the  best 
road,  but  smaller  saplings,  unsplit  poles,  and  even  fence 
rails  were  freely  used.  In  some  places  the  rising  water 
would  float  the  corduroy  away,  at  other  times  it  would 
disappear  in  the  mud  and  quicksand  under  the  heavy 
trains,  when  another  course  would  be  laid,  and  generally 
this  had  to  be  done  in  ceaseless,  pitiless  rain.  But 
through  it  all  the  men  were  cheerful  and  ever  ready  for 
a  joke.  At  the  crossing  of  South  river,  we  had  more 
**  Rebellion  Records,  Serial  No.  98,  page  535. 


March,  1865.  CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAROLINAS.  297 

than  the  usual  difficulty,  and  the  men  had  to  wade  a 
long-  distance  in  water  up  to  their  waists.  After  much 
patient  wading  in  this  seemingly  shoreless  stream,  one 
soldier  was  heard  to  remark  to  his  comrade:  "I  guess 
Uncle  Billy  has  struck  this  stream  endwise." 

As  we  approached  Goldsboro,  General  Sherman  or- 
dered the  wagons  out  of  the  road,  and  the  columns  to 
close  up  and  pass  in  review  before  himself  and  Generals 
Schofield,  Cox,  and  Terry.  Wading  streams,  building 
corduroy  roads  and  bridges,  and  lifting  wagons  out  of 
the  mire,  had  played  havoc  with  the  men's  apparel. 
Shoes  and  hats  had  been  worn  out  and  lost,  uniforms 
were  torn  and  faded,  and  the  whole  army  was  in  motley 
garb — bare  feet,  bare  legs,  torn  coats,  felt  hats — in  fact, 
almost  every  conceivable  kind  of  headwear  was  to  be 
seen,  while  many  a  valiant  warrior  went  without  shoes 
or  hat.  "The  pride  and  pomp  and  circumstance  of 
glorious  war"  had  disappeared.  But  the  bands  played; 
the  files  closed  up,  and  the  ragged  men  began  to  step  to 
music  for  the  first  time  in  months,  as  they  marched  with 
precise  ranks  and  elastic  tread,  past  their  great  leader. 
Some  one  of  the  officers  in  the  distinguished  group  said : 
"See  those  poor  fellows  with  bare  legs !"  To  this  Gen- 
eral Sherman  replied :  "Splendid  legs !  splendid  legs !  I 
would  give  both  of  mine  for  any  one  of  them !" 

Goldsboro  is  situated  on  the  railroad  from  New 
Berne  to  Raleigh,  about  midway  between  the  two  cities, 
and  at  the  point  where  the  railroad  from  Wilmington  to 
Petersburgh  crosses  the  first  named  road.  Here  we 
were  reinforced  by  General  Schofield  with  the  Army  of 
the  Ohio,  and  the  Tenth  army  corps  under  General 
Terry.  After  assisting  in  the  destruction  of  Hood's 


298  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  March,  186S. 

army  at  Nashville,  the  Twenty-third  army  corps  had 
been  transferred  by  river  and  rail  to  Washington,  thence 
down  the  Potomac  and  by  sea  to  New  Berne.  From 
New  Berne,  General  Schofield's  column  had  fought  its 
way  inland,  arriving  at  Goldsboro  one  day  ahead  of  our 
army,  while  General  Terry,  after  capturing  Fort  Fisher 
by  storm,  had  moved  up  the  Neuse  river  and  joined 
Sherman's  army  about  the  same  time.  With  the  troops 
from  Tennessee  came  many  officers  and  men  belonging 
to  our  army,  who  had  been  in  northern  hospitals  on 
account  of  wounds  or  disease,  but,  now  recovered,  were 
returning  to  duty.  Among  those  returning  was  Lieu- 
tenant Musselman,  who  now  resumed  command  of  Com- 
pany G.  He  had  been  on  leave  of  absence  and  returning 
was  caught  with  others  at  Chattanooga,  when  communi- 
cations between  the  north  and  Sherman's  army  were  sev- 
ered in  November.  Unable  to  rejoin  the  command, 
they  reported  to  General  Thomas,  who  assigned  them  to 
duty  in  Tennessee,  where  they  remained  in  the  discharge 
of  various  duties  until  relieved  to  join  the  army  at  Golds- 
boro. 

Two  days  after  the  arrival  of  Sherman's  army,  the 
railroad  from  New  Berne  to  Goldsboro  was  repaired  and 
the  first  train  of  cars  came  in,  and  the  ample  supplies 
provided  at  New  Berne,  by  the  foresight  of  General 
Grant,  began  to  come  forward  to  the  army.  This  was 
to  be  a  point  for  general  refitting,  for  which  but  a  brief 
stop  was  to  be  made.  Clothing  was  brought  up  and 
issued,  and  every  effort  was  put  forth  to  equip  the  army, 
in  the  shortest  possible  time,  for  its  last  campaign. 

In  the  campaign  from  Savannah  to  Goldsboro,  the 
Fourteenth  corps  destroyed  30  miles  of  railroad;  cap- 


March,  1865.  CAMPAIGN  OF  THE  CAE.OLINAS.  299 

tured  581  prisoners;  697  horses  and  1,300  mules.     The 
corps  lost  in  killed,  wounded,  and  missing,  1,244  men.* 

The  following  deaths  from  disease  occurred  in  the 
Eighty-fifth  since  the  regiment  moved  south  from  At- 
lanta: Enoch  Mustard,  of  Company  B,  died  at  Savan- 
nah, Ga.,  January  6th,  1865;  Louis  Ishmael,  of  Com- 
pany C,  died  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  December  15th,  1864. 
Captain  Samuel  Young,  of  Company  D,  died  November 
23rd,  1864,  and  William  Boyd,  of  Company  G,  died  at 
Lexington,  Ky.,  February  I2th,  1865. 

Daniel  Koozer,  of  Company  A,  died  of  wounds  at 
Goldsboro,  on  the  27th.  He  had  been  detached  as  a 
scout  at  division  headquarters,  and  was  wounded  by 
guerrillas  while  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty. 


Rebellion  Records,  Serial  No.  98,  pages  437,  438  and  439. 


300  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  April,  1865. 

CHAPTER  XXIV. 


At  this  time  the  military  situation  was  interesting  and 
exciting.  General  Lee,  at  Richmond  and  Petersburgh, 
less  than  two  hundred  miles  distant,  was  besieged  by 
General  Grant,  who  was  watching  his  adversary  with 
sleepless  eyes.  General  Johnston,  with  the  only  other 
respectable  Confederate  army,  was  at  Smithfield,  about 
midway  between  Goldsboro  and  Raleigh.  If  Lee  should 
remain  behind  his  entrenchments,  in  the  attitude  of  de- 
fense which  he  had  maintained  for  months,  his  defeat 
and  destruction  would  be  almost  certain  the  moment 
our  army  should  drive  Johnston  beyond  the  Roanoke ; 
and  this  General  Sherman  would  be  abundantly  able  to 
do,  as  soon  as  supplies  arrived  in  sufficient  quantities 
to  warrant  an  aggressive  movement.  Lee  might  call 
Johnston  to  his  aid  by  forced  marches,  while  Sherman 
was  refitting  and  getting  ready  to  move,  and  with  the 
united  armies  attempt  to  raise  the  siege  and  ovenvhelm 
Grant.  But  the  two  Confederate  armies  united  would 
not  be  strong  enough  to  beat  Grant  in  his  securely  en- 
trenched position,  and  before  a  siege  could  be  under- 
taken, Sherman  would  arrive  and  close  the  last  avenue 
of  escape.  In  this  situation,  the  best  thing  General  Lee 
could  do  would  be  to  quietly  slip  away  from  Grant ; 
unite  his  army  with  that  of  Johnston  near  Roanoke,  and 
try  to  destroy  Sherman's  army  before  Grant  could  fol- 
low. The  question  was,  would  Lee  make  the  attempt 
to  escape  from  Grant,  and  try  to  fight  a  great  battle  with 
the  combined  armies  of  the  Confederacy  against  Sher- 
man's army?  We  now  know  that  is  just  what  he  tried 


April,  1865.  THE  FINAL  CAMPAIGN.  301 

to  do,  and  the  first  move  he  made  in  that  direction  was 
the  signal  for  Grant  to  strike.  Accordingly  on  the  last 
day  of  March,  thinking  he  saw  symptoms  of  such  a 
movement,  Grant  struck,  and,  after  a  series  of  sanguin- 
ary battles,  the  Confederate  lines  were  broken  and  Lee, 
with  his  shattered  army,  was  put  to  flight.  The  Confed- 
erate capital  was  evacuated,  and  the  officers  of  the  rebel 
government  became  individual  fugitives,  each  seeking 
to  expatriate  himself. 

With  the  reinforcements  received  at  Goldsboro,  the 
army  numbered  eighty-eight  thousand  men,  with  ninety- 
one  pieces  of  artillery.  It  was,  perhaps,  as  nearly  per- 
fect in  instruction,  equipment,  and  general  efficiency  as 
volunteer  troops  can  be  made  while  in  the  field.  Then, 
too,  in  the  coming  campaign  it  was  to  be  led  by  the  bold- 
est and  best  fighting  generals,  as  corps  commanders,  to 
be  found  in  the  field,  either  east  or  west.  The  Army  of 
Georgia,  under  command  of  General  Slocum,  with  his 
two  corps  commanded  by  Generals  Jeff  C.  Davis  and 
Joseph  A.  Mower;  the  Army  of  the  Ohio,  commanded 
by  General  Schofield,  and  his  two  corps,  commanded  by 
Generals  J.  D.  Cox  and  A.  H.  Terry,  and  the  Army  of 
the  Tennessee,  commanded  by  General  O.  O.  Howard, 
and  his  two  corps,  commanded  by  Generals  John  A. 
Logan  and  Frank  P.  Blair.  Thus  equipped  and  com- 
manded, the  army  was  prepared  to  fight  a  desperate,  final 
battle  with  the  combined  armies  of  the  Confederacy,  in 
case  Lee  and  Johnston  should  effect  a  junction  before 
General  Grant  could  follow  Lee  to  the  Roanoke. 

On  April  5th,  preparations  for  an  advance  had  been 
so  far  completed  that  orders  were  issued  for  the  move- 
ment to  begin  on  the  loth,  and  on  the  6th,  news  was 


302  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  April,  K6S. 

received  of  the  fall  uf  Richmond  and  Petersburg!!,  and 
the  flight  of  Lee's  army,  glorious  news  which  was  des- 
tined to  get  better  and  better,  with  one  sad  exception,  to 
the  end. 

At  daylight  on  the  morning  of  the  loth  of  April,  the 
whole  army  moved  directly  against  the  enemy  at  Smith- 
field,  the  Fourteenth  corps  in  advance,  on  the  main  road, 
and  the  second  division  the  advance  of  the  corps.  With- 
in three  miles  the  enemy  was  found  behind  the  usual  bar- 
ricades of  fence  rails,  but  his  outposts  were  swept  aside 
without  a  moment's  hesitation.  A  dispatch  received 
that  morning  from  Virginia  stated  that  Grant,  in  pur- 
suit of  Lee,  had  already  made  large  captures  of  prisoners 
and  artillery,  and  this  animated  the  eager  troops  to  in- 
crease their  efforts  to  bring  Johnston's  army  to  battle. 
There  was  now  no  delay  in  attacking  the  enemy  or  wait- 
ing for  others  to  turn  a  flank,  but  wherever  found,  the 
enemy's  position  was  promptly  charged  and  his  troops 
dispersed.  Early  on  the  next  morning  our  corps  en- 
tered Smithfield,  to  find  that  Johnston  had  retreated 
after  destroying  the  bridges  over  Neuse  river.  Here  a 
brief  delay  was  encountered  until  the  pontoons  could 
be  brought  up  and  a  bridge  laid,  when  the  headlong  pur- 
suit of  the  enemy  was  resumed. 

On  the  morning  of  the  I2th,  while  passing  through 
one  of  the  pine  forests  peculiar  to  that  region,  where  the 
taper  columns  rose  a  hundred  feet  before  spreading  their 
branches  into  arches  like  those  of  some  vast  cathedral, 
the  command  was  halted  at  the  end  of  the  first  hour's 
march  for  the  usual  five  minutes'  rest.  The  day  was 
bright  and  warm,  the  scene  restful  and  beautiful,  and 
while  the  men  were  enjoying  their  brief  rest  the  com- 


April,  1865.  THE  FINAL  CAMPAIGN.  303 

mand  was  electrified  by  the  announcement  that  Lee, 
with  his  entire  army,  had  surrendered  at  Appomattox. 
The  announcement  came  through  corps  headquarters, 
and  General  Davis,  with  pardonable  pride,  recalled  the 
fact  that  just  four  years  before,  while  a  lieutenant  in  Fort 
Sumter,  he  had  heard  the  first  gun  fired  in  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion.  This  was  a  happy  prelude  to  the  glori- 
ous news  and  reminded  one  and  all  that  it  was  the  fourth 
anniversary  of  the  firing  on  the  devoted  band  of  heroes 
in  Charleston  harbor.  While  the  announcement  of  the 
surrender  of  Lee  and  his  army  came  to  us  so  unexpect- 
edly by  the  roadside,  its  full  significance  was  at  once 
understood.  All  realized  that  the  war  was  virtually  over. 
The  message  meant  home,  and  wife,  and  children,  and 
happy  reunions  with  friends  throughout  the  land.  It 
carried  indescribable  joy  to  brave  men,  whose  patience 
had  been  sorely  tried,  and  whose  strength  had  been  well- 
night  exhausted  by  weary  marches  and  indecisive  bat- 
tles. Then  after  hearty  cheers  that  rang  through  the 
piney  woods  and  seemed  to  fill  the  blue  dome  above  us, 
the  command  fell  in,  faced  to  the  front,  and  eagerly  re- 
sumed the  march  against  the  only  remaining  army  of  the 
Confederacy. 

Two  incidents,  said  to  have  occurred  upon  the  an- 
nouncement of  Lee's  surrender,  illustrate  the  humor  and 
the  pathos  of  the  scene.  As  the  bearer  of  the  glad  tid- 
ings dashed  along  the  line,  a  soldier,  quick  as  the  mes- 
sage fell  upon  his  ears,  answered :  "Be  dad !  You're 
the  man  we've  been  looking  for  for  the  last  four  years." 
At  the  roadside  a  woman  and  several  small  children 
stood  at  the  gate,  watching  the  antics  of  the  shouting 
soldiers.  As  she  realized  the  import  of  the  news,  she 


304  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  April,  1865. 

turned  to  the  children  and  said,  "Now  papa  can  come 
home." 

The  brigade  passed  through  Raleigh  on  the  evening 
of  the  next  day  and  camped  for  the  night  west  of  the  city 
limits.  The  capital  city  of  North  Carolina  had  escaped 
the  ravages  of  war,  and  was  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
cities  we  had  seen  in  the  South.  From  Raleigh  the 
Fourteenth  corps  marched  thirty-six  miles  southwest  to 
Aven's  ferry  on  the  Cape  Fear  river,  where  it  arrived  on 
the  evening  of  the  I5th.  While  in  camp  at  this  point, 
General  Johnston  set  up  the  white  flag,  an  armistice  was 
proclaimed,  and  negotiations  began  for  the  surrender  of 
his  army. 

On  the  1 7th,  while  the  men  were  almost  delirious 
with  joy  over  the  assurance  of  returning  peace,  the 
startling  intelligence  was  received  that  President  Lin- 
coln had  been  assassinated.  At  first  the  men  were  so 
stunned  and  dazed  by  this  wanton  and  cruel  murder  that 
they  wandered  about  the  camps  aimless  and  speechless, 
their  sorrow  too  deep  for  utterance.  The  President  had 
endeared  himself  to  the  Union  soldiers  to  an  extent  that 
it  is  nearly,  if  not  quite  impossible,  for  those  outside  the 
army  to  wholly  understand.  In  the  darkest  hours  of  the 
terrible  struggle  his  firmness  of  purpose  and  his  faith  in 
ultimate  success  had  been  an  unfailing  source  of  inspira- 
tion. To  the  rank  and  file  "Father  Abraham"  was  no 
unmeaning  term.  It  was  not  a  sentiment,  it  was  a  fact. 
It  was  the  precise  term  that  described  the  love  and  vene- 
ration they  felt  for  him,  whose  courage  rose  in  the  dark- 
est hours  to  the  majesty  of  grandest  heroism.  They 
had  followed  him  with  the  confidence  of  children,  while 
he  led  the  people  with  almost  more  than  mortal  wisdom. 


April,  1865.  THE  FINAIv  CAMPAIGN.  305 

It  was  his  serene  confidence  that  restored  their  failing 
faith — his  never  relaxing  hope  that  cheered  them  on  to 
victory.  The  question  of  the  ages  had  come  to  be  set- 
tled on  the  battlefield,  "Can  a  nation  endure  the  test  that 
is  founded  upon  the  declaration  that  all  men  are  free  and 
equal?"  In  such  a  contest  a  general  might  fail,  many  of 
them  did  fail,  but  in  the  President  there  must  be  neither 
variableness  nor  shadow  of  turning.  He  had  com- 
manded through  a  four-years'  battle.  His  wisdom  had 
guided  the  people  through  four  years  of  tempest  and 
storm  with  singular  tact  and  matchless  skill.  Then,  too, 
there  was  a  sense  of  personal  bereavement  to  many  who 
had  followed  him  as  a  trusted  political  leader  in  Illinois, 
with  the  zeal  and  enthusiasm  known  only  to  youth. 

Up  to  this  hour  the  only  desire  of  the  men  had  been 
to  end  the  war  and  go  home.  To  that  end  they  had  been 
willing  to  undertake  any  hardship,  endure  every  priva- 
tion, and  brave  any  danger.  But  now  that  one  so  gentle, 
so  kind  and  forgiving,  should  be  so  causelessly  murdered 
seemed  incomprehensible,  and  they  began  instinctively 
to  lay  this  monstrous  crime  to  the  brutalizing  influence 
of  a  system  that  had  debauched  the  people  of  the  South 
and  to  regard  it  as  a  legitimate  consequence  of  rebellion 
against  lawful  authority.  Then  a  desire  for  vengeance 
took  possession  of  them,  and  they  rejoiced  in  the 
thought  that  negotiations  for  surrender  might  fail,  that 
hostilities  might  be  resumed  in  order  that  they  should 
have  an  opportunity  to  avenge  the  foul  crime  committed 
at  Washington.  But  this  terrible  desire  for  vengeance 
passed  away ;  the  avenging  hand  was  stayed,  and  neither 
shot  nor  shell  was  sent  on  its  deadly  mission. 

On  the  1 8th  an  agreement  was  signed  between  Gen- 


306  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  April,  1865. 

eral  Sherman  and  General  Johnston  for  the  surrender  of 
all  of  the  Confederate  forces  then  remaining  in  the  field. 
But,  as  this  agreement  was  conditional,  it  had  to  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  President  before  becoming  final,  and  the 
existing  truce  was  continued  until  the  agreement  could 
be  sent  to  Washington  for  approval  or  rejection  by  the 
President.  As  the  agreement  contained  political  ques- 
tions not  properly  subject  to  the  decision  of  a  military 
convention  the  whole  agreement  was  unceremoniously 
rejected  by  the  President,  and  General  Grant  was 
ordered  to  Raleigh  to  take  command  of  the  army  in  per- 
son and  to  resume  hositilities  at  once. 

In  the  generous  terms  accorded  to  General  Lee  at 
Appomattox  General  Grant  had  gone  to  the  limit  of 
liberality  and  the  authorities  were  not  willing  to  grant 
further  concessions  to  those  in  rebellion  against  the  Fed- 
eral Union.  In  the  exercise  of  generous  sentiment  and 
sound  judgment  he  had  established  a  precedent  which  all 
of  his  subordinates  were  expected  to  follow  in  their 
negotiations  with  the  enemy.  So  when  General  Sher- 
man, for  the  moment,  laid  aside  the  character  of  a  soldier 
and  assumed  that  of  a  diplomat,  he  permitted  himself  to 
entertain  and  submit  for  approval  terms  of  surrender 
which  the  government  could  not  sanction. 

General  Grant  upon  his  arrival  at  Raleigh,  with 
graceful  tact,  turned  his  presence  into  an  apparent  visit 
of  consultation  with  Sherman,  and  but  very  few,  even  in 
the  army,  knew  of  his  visit  until  he  had  come  and  gone. 
Without  a  moment's  delay,  General  Sherman  advised  the 
Confederate  commander  of  the  rejection  of  the  agree- 
ment, proclaimed  an  end  to  the  truce,  and  demanded  the 
surrender  of  the  rebel  army  upon  the  same  terms  given 


April,  1865.  THE  FINAL  CAMPAIGN.  307 

to  General  Lee.  At  the  same  time,  orders  were  issued 
to  the  army  to  be  ready  to  resume  hostilities  at  the  end  of 
the  forty-eight  hours'  notice  required  by  the  terms  of  the 
armistice.  But  there  was  to  be  no  more  war,  the  prof- 
fered terms  were  promptly  accepted,  and,  on  the  26th, 
General  Johnston  surrendered  all  of  the  Confederate 
forces  east  of  the  Chattahoochee  river ;  and  the  next  day 
General  Grant  returned  to  Washington  without  having 
announced  his  presence  to  the  army,  and  without  his 
presence  being  known  in  the  camp  of  the  enemy. 

Now.  according  to  immemorial  custom,  Sherman's 
victorious  legions  should  have  been  drawn  up  in  line 
with  sounding  trumpet  and  waving  plume,  while  the 
captives  should  in  that  imposing  presence,  furl  their  flags 
and  ground  their  arms.  But  instead  of  this  triumphant 
pageant,  the  rebel  army  was  permitted  to  furl  its  ill- 
starred  banners  and  lay  down  its  arms  in  the  seclusion  of 
its  own  camp,  and  there  was  neither  blare  of  band  nor 
peal  of  cannon  heard  in  the  quarters  of  the  Federal  army. 
But  as  soon  as  the  result  became  known,  the  gray  and 
the  blue  were  seen  drinking  from  the  same  canteen  and 
eating  from  the  same  haversack. 

The  duty  of  receiving  the  arms  and  munitions  of  war, 
and  of  issuing  paroles  to  the  officers  and  men  of  the  Con- 
federate army,  was  assigned  to  General  Schofield,  and 
the  Twenty-third  army  corps,  commanded  by  General 
Cox,  was  advanced  to  the  vicinity  of  Greensboro,  then 
the  county-seat  of  Guilford  county,  where  that  duty  was 
performed.  It  therefore  came  to  pass,  that  the  final 
scenes  of  surrender  took  place  in  close  proximity  to  the 
battlefield  of  Guilford  Court  House,  where,  in  the  War 
of  the  Revolution,  the  American  army  commanded  by 


308  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  April,  1865. 

General  Greene  fought  a  memorable  battle  with  the  Brit- 
ish under  Lord  Cornwallis.  The  engagement  marked 
the  turning  point  in  the  British  campaign,  as  on  that 
hotly  contested  field  the  Continental  forces  checked  the 
advance  of  the  British  army  of  invasion  and  a  few  days 
after  the  battle,  Cornwallis  was  compelled  to  retire  into 
Virginia,  where  he  shut  himself  up  in  Yorktown. 

At  the  time  of  the  surrender,  the  "Old  Court  House" 
had  almost  entirely  disappeared,  a  few  dilapidated  build- 
ings being  all  that  remained  to  mark  the  site  of  that  his- 
toric town.  But  the  topography  of  a  country  which 
dominates  military  movements  does  not  change  mater- 
iall  /,.  and  hill  and  valley  and  stream  remain  the  same 
through  ages.  The  fact  that  our  line  of  march  led  our 
army  to  cross  the  streams  where  Cornwallis  crossed, 
passing  on  the  way  the  fields  where  he  fought,  and  end- 
ing our  campaign  at  a  point  where  his  invasion  was 
checked  eighty  years  before,  would  seem  to  place  the  art 
of  war  among  the  exact  sciences. 

The  final  agreement  for  the  surrender  was  signe:l  on 
the  26lh,  ?nd  on  the  next  morning  orders  were  issued, 
directing  the  right  and  left  wings  of  the  army  10  m.ircl? 
by  easy  stages  to  Richmond.  So  Sherman'  army  that 
had  fought  its  way  to  Atlanta,  marched  to  Savannah  and 
thence  to  Raleigh,  did  not  see  the  surrender  of  John- 
ston's army,  although  the  men  shared  the  curiosl:y  com- 
mon to  victorious  soldiers  respecting  that  event.  The 
divisions  composing  the  two  wings  were  drawn  in,  the 
ammunition  trains  were  relieved  of  their  now  useless 
contents,  and  the  wagons  were  loaded  with  provisions 
and  forage,  and  by  the  evening  of  the  3Oth,  preparations 
for  a  peaceful  homeward  march  had  been  completed. 


HENKY  C.   SWISH  KK. 

COMPANT  H. 


309 


UbRARY 

Of-   »M€ 
UNIVtfiSlfY 


May,  1865.  THE)  FINAL  CAMPAIGN.  311 

On  the  morning  of  May  ist,  the  Second  division 
moved  out  of  Morrisville;  crossed  the  Neuse  river  that 
afternoon,  and  passed  through  Oxford,  the  shire  town  of 
Granville  county,  the  next  day.  On  the  3rd,  we  crossed 
Tar  river,  and  later  in  the  day  the  North  Carolina  and 
Virginia  state  line,  camping  for  the  night  near  Taylor's 
Ferry,  on  the  Roanoke  river.  The  next  day  we  crossed 
the  Roanoke  on  a  pontoon  bridge,  eight  hundred  feet  in 
lenth,  passed  through  Boydton  Court  House,  and 
camped  on  the  Meherrin  river.  Thence  our  route  led 
through  Nottoway  Court  House,  and  across  the  famous 
Appomattox  river  at  Good's  bridge,  to  Manchester,  op- 
posite Richmond,  where  we  arrived  on  Sunday  evening, 
May  7th. 

It  was  an  odd  experience"  for  the  first  few  days  to 
march  steadily  on  without  here  and  there  forming  a  line 
of  battle,  and  to  go  to  sleep  at  night  undisturbed  by  the 
prospect  of  a  midnight  call  to  arms.  Then,  too,  the  citi- 
zens no  longer  fled  or  hid  at  the  approach  of  our  army, 
but  one  and  all,  men,  women  and  children,  flocked  to  the 
road  to  see  it  pass.  Frequently  in  the  family  groups  at 
the  roadside,  men  clad  in  the  faded  gray  uniform  of  the 
Confederate  soldier  could  be  seen,  good-naturedly  jok- 
ing with  their  former  foes  as  the  column  passed  by.  And 
"Say,  Yank !  ain't  you  'uns  all  a  long  ways  from  home?" 
and  "Johnny!  Why  don't  you  fix  up  that  fence?"  are  ex- 
amples of  the  innocent  chaffing  that  took  place  between 
the  blue  and  the  gray. 

We  never  knew  whether  all  the  petty  annoyances  to 
which  Sherman's  army  was  subjected  while  it  camped  in 
the  vicinity  of  Richmond  were  caused  by  General  Hal- 
leek's  direct  orders  or  not.  But  soon  after  the  fall  of 

19 


312  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  May,  1865. 

the  Confederate  capital  that  distinguished  non-comba- 
tant was  assigned  to  command  the  Department  of  the 
James,  with  headquarters  in  Richmond.  His  martial 
zeal  had  been  restrained  to  such  an  extent  while  serving 
as  chief  of  staff  at  Washington,  that  when  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  the  armies  in  the  field,  he 
was  bubbling  over  with  fight,  and  ready  to  display  the 
most  bloodthirsty  zeal.  Among  the  first  orders  issued 
after  his  arrival  at  Richmond  was  one  directing  his 
troops  to  disregard  the  armistice  then  pending  between 
Generals  Sherman  and  Johnston  while  negotiations  were 
in  progress  for  the  surrender  of  all  of  the  Confederate 
armies  remaining  in  the  field.  This  was  a  most  flagrant 
violation  of  the  laws  of  war,  and  a  direct  insult  to  Sher- 
man and  his  army.  Yet,  notwithstanding  this  base  out- 
rage, Halleck  issued  orders  directing  Sherman's  army  to 
pass  in  review  before  him,  as  it  marched  through  Rich- 
mond. Sherman  promptly  forbade  the  proposed  review 
and  advised  Halleck  to  keep  out  of  sight  while  the  army 
passed  through  the  city,  if  he  desired  to  avoid  an  expres- 
sion of  the  just  indignation  felt  alike  by  the  officers  and 
men  of  his  army.  Then  Halleck,  whose  capacity  for 
blundering  seemed  without  limit,  refused  to  permit  any 
of  Sherman's  men  to  enter  the  city. 

Among  the  officers  and  men  in  Sherman's  army, 
there  were  many  who  had  marched  from  the  Mississippi 
to  the  James,  and  never  before  in  all  their  weary  marches 
had  been  refused  permission  to  enter  a  captured  town 
or  city.  They  could  see  ex-Conederate  soldiers  and  citi- 
zens going  to  and  coming  from  the  city  at  will,  but  when 
they  attempted  to  visit  the  city,  they  were  met  at  the 
pontoon  bridge  by  a  provost  guard,  who  informed  them 


May,  1865.  THE  FINAL  CAMPAIGN.  313 

that  Sherman's  men  could  not  pass  the  bridge.  But  the 
men  had  come  too  far  to  see  the  rebel  capital  to  be  de- 
nied the  sight  without  a  protest.  So  a  little  time  was 
spent  in  quiet  organization  in  the  seclusion  of  the  camps, 
and  then  the  men  proceeded  to  resent  this  new  indignity 
and  to  show  in  their  own  way  their  contempt  for  a  dun- 
derpated  martinet.  A  large  crowd  assembled  at  the 
south  end  of  the  bridge,  entirely  unarmed  and  without 
officers  or  orders,  when  upon  the  agreed  signal  the  men 
rushed  upon  the  guards,  many  of  whom  were  jostled  into 
the  river,  and  by  sheer  weight  of  numbers  seized  the 
bridge.  The  affair  was  entirely  irregular,  but  there  is 
little  doubt  that  General  Sherman  appreciated  the  grim 
humor  displayed  by  his  unarmed  men  in  wresting  the 
Richmond  bridge  from  Halleck's  guards.  But  so  far  as 
we  could  learn,  and  strange  as  it  may  appear,  Halleck 
never  resented  the  conduct  of  the  men  in  overthrowing 
his  guards,  nor  was  any  one  arrested  for  defying  his  or- 
ders and  invading  the  city  against  his  mandate. 

On  the  morning  of  the  nth.  the  army  crossed  the 
James  river  and  passed  through  Richmond.  The  troops 
moved  at  the  usual  marching  pace,  making  no  parade  of 
ceremony  and  there  was  no  review.  The  sidewalks  were 
crowded  with  citizens  and  ex-Confederate  soldiers, 
whose  curiosity  to  see  Sherman's  army  insured  their 
presence,  while  the  memory  of  the  recent  death  of  their 
most  cherished  hopes,  rendered  impossible  any  demon- 
stration of  approval  or  greeting  of  welcome.  This  nat- 
ural feeling  so  evident  among  the  spectators,  was  re- 
spected by  the  passing  troops  and  no  song  of  victory  was 
heard  while  Sherman  and  his  army  marched  through  the 
graveyard  of  southern  hopes  and  Confederate  ambition. 


314  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  May,  1865. 

It  was  expected  that  the  earthworks  erected  for  the 
defense  of  the  rebel  capital  would  be  found  to  be  monu- 
ments of  engineering  skill,  massive  in  their  proportions 
and  impregnable  in  their  strength.  But  the  fortifica- 
tions proved  disappointing,  and  officers  and  men  agreed 
that  they  were  in  no  way  so  strong,  nor  were  they  so 
elaborate  in  construction  as  the  works  encountered  near 
Atlanta.  After  taking  dinner  in  the  rebel  works,  at  the 
point  where  the  road  to  Hanover  Court  House  leaves 
the  city,  we  crossed  the  Chickahominy  river  and  camped 
for  the  night  within  a  few  miles  of  the  battlefields  of  Me- 
chanicsville,  Gaines  Mills  and  Fair  Oaks. 

From  Richmond  to  Washington  Sherman's  army 
marched  on  holy  ground.  Over  this  narrow  field  the 
tide  of  battle  ebbed  and  flowed  throughout  the  war,  and 
from  hill  and  valley  and  plain  the  smoke  of  sacrifice  had 
risen,  and  the  atoning  blood  had  been  poured  out.  Al- 
most one  continuous  battlefield,  the  familiar  scenes  along 
the  line  of  march  constantly  reminded  us  "of  the  night  in 
the  trench  and  the  pale  faces  of  the  dead."  Insignificant 
towns  and  hamlets  had  been  immortalized  by  the  valor- 
ous deeds  performed  in  their  thriftless  streets,  and  the 
crossings  of  the  almost  numberless  streams  had  been  re- 
peatedly taken  and  retaken  by  cunning  stratagem  or 
dashing  courage.  The  two  armies  operating  between 
the  Union  and  Confederate  capitals  had  been  the  largest 
snd  the  best  equipped  in  the  service,  and  the  conflicts  be- 
tween them  had  been  very  frequent  and  deadly.  But 
the  battles,  while  bravely  fought  and  bloody  enough  to 
satisfy  the  most  sanguinary,  had  been  so  indecisive  and 
fruitless  that  it  may  well  be  doubted  if  the  campaigns  in 
Virginia  previous  to  that  of  1864-5  contributed  in  the 


May,  1865.  THE  FINAL  CAMPAIGN.  315 

least  degree  to  the  final  triumph  of  the  National  cause. 

Sherman's  army  reached  the  heights  overlooking 
Washington  City,  on  the  ipth  of  May,  1865,  and  went 
into  camps  just  below  those  already  in  possession  of  Gen- 
eral Meade's  Army  of  the  Potomac.  To  the  vast  major- 
ity of  Sherman's  army  this  was  their  first  sight  of  the 
national  capital.  From  our  camp  we  could  see  the  dome 
of  the  capital,  as  it  stood  in  simple  grandeur  against  the 
sky,  and  it  was  difficult  to  realize  that  within  less  than  a 
year  the  enemy  had  looked  upon  it  with  covetous  eye, 
while  the  roar  of  his  guns  could  be  distinctly  heard  in  the 
White  House.  Yet  in  the  preceding  July,  while  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  was  engaged  in  the  siege  of 
Petersburg,  and  Sherman's  army  was  on  the  Chattta- 
hoochee  river,  the  rebels  under  the  command  of  General 
Early  were  thundering  at  the  gates  of  the  capital  city  of 
the  Union.  But  then,  the  stupendous  operations  of  the 
last  year  of  the  struggle  had  been  conducted  upon  a  field 
of  such  magnitude,  that  the  common  mind  could  scarcely 
keep  pace  with  the  rapid  march  of  events. 

The  Army  of  the  East  and  the  Army  of  the  West 
occupied  the  south  bank  of  the  Potomac  river  from  a 
point  opposite  Georgetown  to  Alexandria,  and  the  next 
few  days  were  spent  in  preparing  for  a  great  military 
display,  which  was  to  take  place  in  the  national  capital 
in  honor  of  the  final  victory  for  the  Union.  To  the  men 
of  the  Western  army  this  would  be  a  new  experience; 
they  had  never  witnessed  a  formal  parade  of  ceremony, 
and  in  all  their  long  service  they  had  observed  no  holi- 
day. 


316  HISTORY  OF  THE  85'f  H  ILLINOIS.  May,  1865. 

CHAPTER  XXV. 


It  is  said  to  have  been  at  the  suggestion  of  Secretary 
Stanton,  that  the  armies  of  the  east  and  west  were  as- 
sembled in  the  national  capital  to  be  reviewed  by  the 
commander-in-chief.  Coming  from  distant  fields,  these 
armies  had  different  histories,  but  the  men  were  bound 
together  by  a  common  cause — the  preservation  of 
national  integrity.  Their  love  of  country  had  the  force 
of  a  religious  passion,  and  during  all  the  long  period, 
when  the  fate  of  the  Union  was  at  stake,  their  efforts 
never  relaxed,  their  vigilance  never  ceased,  and  there 
was  no  abatement  of  their  purpose  to  capture  or  utterly 
destroy  the  enemies  of  the  republic.  They  had  vindi- 
cated national  authority,  they  had  set  the  bond  man  free, 
and  now  they  brought  home  peace.  These  priceless 
trophies  made  it  proper  for  the  President,  attended  by 
the  chief  officers  of  the  government,  to  welcome  them 
in  the  name  of  the  republic.  They  had  earned  the  right 
to  receive  the  laurel  wreath  from  the  steps  of  the  capitol. 

General  Grant  had  commanded  the  Western  army  in 
all  its  early  victories  and  had  been  at  all  times  the  prime 
favorite  of  the  men.  He  never  made  speeches  to  them 
and  never  solicited  applause,  but  the  most  humble  sol- 
dier could  approach  him,  and  he  had  a  quiet  way  of  over- 
coming difficulties  that  was  as  simple  and  as  easily  un- 
derstood as  it  was  effectual.  If  his  means  or  supplies 
were  imperfect,  he  found  the  best  available  substitute, 
and  if  he  could  not  accomplish  the  full  requirement,  he 
performed  as  much  as  was  possible.  He  had  the  faculty 
of  imparting  to  his  troops  the  determination  to  win  with 


May,  1865.  THE  GRAND  REVIEW.  317 

which  he  was  himself  inspired,  and  their  feelings  toward 
him  soon  came  to  be  that  of  implicit  trust.  Constantly 
ready  to  fight,  he  lost  no  opportunity  that  prompt  action 
could  turn  to  advantage,  and  throughout  an  unbroken 
career  of  victory  he  never  declined  the  offer  of  battle. 
Grant  would  drive  his  chariot  through  passes  others 
would  not  venture  to  approach.  He  would  hold  the 
enemy  in  his  relentless,  vice-like  grasp  until  he  had  ac- 
complished his  full  purpose,  and  leave  upon  the  mind  of 
his  observer  the  impression  that  he  had  a  reserve  of 
power,  other  resources  not  yet  called  into  action. 

After  leading  the  Western  army  to  a  series  of  splen- 
did victories,  beginning  at  Belmont  and  ending  in  the 
crushing  defeat  of  Bragg  at  Chattanooga,  his  men  were 
not  surprised  to  see  him  called  to  a  larger  field  of  useful- 
ness. Grant's  merit  had  won  for  him  the  command  of 
all  armies  of  the  Union,  and  at  once  the  vast  military 
power  of  the  north  began  to  move  in  harmony,  respon- 
sive to  the  clear  purpose  of  his  comprehensive  mind. 
Proud  of  their  old  commander,  the  men  watched  the  ter- 
rific struggle  in  the  east  with  ever  increasing  admiration 
for  his  courage  and  his  skill.  Grant  would  win,  they 
knew  that,  but  the  question  was,  Would  the  end  come 
before  the  west  could  lend  a  helping  hand  to  the  east? 
So  they  marched  on  to  Atlanta;  to  the  sea,  and  were 
almost  ready  to  join  hands  with  their  comrades  of  the 
east,  when  the  final  consummation  came  which  insured 
union  and  liberty  throughout  the  land.  And  now,  the 
proposed  review  would  afford  an  opportunity  for  the 
veterans  of  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Vicksburg  and  Chatta- 
nooga to  unite  with  the  heroes  of  the  Wilderness,  Spott- 
sylvania,  Petersburgh  and  Appomattox  in  paying  a  trib- 


318  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  May,  1865. 

ute  of  respect  to  the  soldier  hero  of  the  struggle,  before 
they  should  return  to  civil  life. 

Promptly  on  Wednesday  morning,  May  23rd,  the 
head  of  the  column  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  wheeled 
round  the  capitol  and  the  grand  review  began.  There 
is  no  more  beautiful  weather  than  that  of  Washington  in 
the  early  summer,  when  the  warmer  air  comes  with  the 
lengthening  days,  and  on  this  memorable  occasion  the 
weather  was  all  that  could  be  desired.  Pennsylvania 
avenue,  with  its  great  length  and  ample  width,  was  ad- 
mirably adapted  for  a  review  of  the  grand  armies.  Tens 
of  thousands  of  people  from  the  northern  states  had 
come  to  witness  the  imposing  spectacle,  and  to  welcome 
the  returning  heroes.  The  most  ample  preparations 
had  been  made  for  the  occasion.  Seats  had  been  erected 
in  the  parks  bordering  the  broad  avenue  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  vast  crowd  of  visitors.  The  President 
and  General  Grant  were  seated  on  an  elevated  stand  in 
front  of  the  White  House,  surrounded  by  members  of 
the  cabinet,  foreign  ministers,  and  distinguished  visitors. 
The  whole  city  was  in  holiday  attire,  the  noble  avenue 
was  lined,  on  both  sides  and  from  end  to  end,  with  ad- 
miring people,  and  every  window  was  filled  with  eager 
spectators.  It  was  the  annual  recurring  season  of  foli- 
age and  flowers,  and  there  were  flowers  on  every  hand 
in  seemingly  endless  variety  and  profusion,  while  many 
of  the  visitors  carried  wreaths  for  their  favorite  regi- 
ments. The  national  flag,  was  flying  from  the  public 
buildings,  and  from  almost  every  house  and  store,  and 
to  see  the  stars  and  stripes  in  other  places  than  at  head- 
quarters, or  above  the  heads  of  the  color-guard,  was 
as  novel  as  it  was  pleasing. 


May,  1865.  THE  GRAND  REVIEW.  319 

Nearly  all  day  for  two  successive  days,  from  the  cap- 
itol  to  the  White  House,  could  be  seen  a  mass  of  vet- 
eran soldiers  in  columns  of  companies,  marching  with 
steady  tread  to  the  inspiring  strains  of  martial  music. 
To  the  multitude  of  spectators  it  was  a  revelation  of  the 
greatness  and  power  of  the  republic ;  while  to  the  actors 
in  that  royal  pageant  of  joy  and  gladness  it  was  the  event 
of  a  lifetime.  Indeed,  more  than  one  enthusiastic  sol- 
dier was  heard  to  declare  that  it  was  worth  ten  years  of 
any  man's  life  to  be  able  to  say,  "I  was  there."  Only 
a  part  of  the  vast  forces  of  the  Union  marched  through 
Washington  on  the  grand  review,  but  the  number  was 
large  beyond  any  but  the  skilled  mind  to  reckon.  If  we 
say  that  sixty-five  thousand  men  passed  in  review  each 
day,  or  one  hundred  and  thirty  thousand  in  the  two  days, 
it  is  still  difficult  to  comprehend  the  magnitude  of  the 
display.  Perhaps  a  better  idea  may  be  conveyed  by 
stating-  that  for  six  hours  and  a  half  each  day  of  the  re- 
view Pennsylvania  avenue  was  filled  with  marching 
troops,  whose  columns  if  connected  would  be  over  thirty 
miles  in  length. 

The  first  day  of  the  review  was  given  to  General 
Meade's  army,  and  this  afforded  an  opportunity  for 
many  of  the  officers  and  men  belonging  to  General  Sher- 
man's army  to  attend  and  witness  the  parade  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.  There  was  very  naturally  more  or 
less  generous  rivalry  between  the  soldiers  from  the  east 
and  west,  and  as  comparison  was  made  of  their  respec- 
tive qualities  and  characteristics,  the  memory  was  busy 
with  the  histories  of  the  grand  armies.  From  the  first 
the  rank  and 'file  of  the  Eastern  army  followed  their  lead- 
ers with  courage  that  never  wavered  and  with  enterprise 


320  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  May,  1865. 

that  never  wearied.  But  they  had  been  unfortunate  in 
the  generals  appointed  to  command  them,  and  the  long 
list  of  sickening  disasters  which  befel  that  devoted  army 
in  the  first  three  years  of  the  war  should  be  charged  to 
their  commanders'  gross  incompetency.  But  under  the 
direction  of  General  Grant's  unconquerable  genius,  the 
battles  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  from  the  Wilder- 
ness to  the  crowing  victory  at  Appomattox,  have  no  par- 
allels on  the  continent  of  America.  , 

Operating  in  a  field  easy  of  access  from  the  national 
capital,  the  Army  of  the  East  was  frequently  visited  by 
distinguished  persons  in  whose  honor  reviews  were  held. 
On  such  occasions  the  evil  custom  had  grown  up  of  rec- 
ognizing the  presence  of  the  visitor,  be  he  soldier  or 
statesman,  by  a  hearty  greeting  of  applause.  Now 
when  troops  marching  by  company  front,  cheer  and 
swing  their  hats,  the  step  is  invariably  lost,  the  align- 
ment is  broken,  and  it  is  impossible  to  maintain  uniform 
intervals  between  the  companies.  On  the  first  day's  re- 
view, it  was  observed  that  a  very  large  proportion  of  the 
regiments  destroyed  their  military  bearing  in  this  way, 
as  they  passed  the  reviewing  stand.  The  Army  of  the 
Potomac  had  a  very  much  larger  number  of  recruits, 
substitutes,  and  drafted  men  in  its  ranks,  than  appeared 
in  the  Western  army.  This  was  not  surprising  when  it 
is  remembered  that  Sherman's  army  while  marching 
through  the  Confederacy,  had  been  far  beyond  the  reach 
of  recruiting  stations,  and  that  few  recruits  and  fewer 
conscripts  found  their  way  into  its  ranks.  At  all  times, 
accustomed  to  receive  full  supplies  directly  from  the 
north,  through  a  secure  base  on  the  sea  coast,  the  east- 
ern troops  had  never  been  compelled  to  wrest  supplies 


May,  1865.  THE  GRAND  REVIEW.  321 

from  the  enemy,  nor  to  gather  food  and  forage  from  a 
hostile  country.  Consequently  the  Army  of  the  Poto- 
mac appeared  well-dressed  and  handsomely  equipped  on 
the  grand  review. 

Punctually  at  nine  o'clock  on  the  next  morning,  May 
24th,  the  signal  gun  was  fired  and  the  steel  crowned 
ranks  of  Sherman's  army  wheeled  into  the  broad  avenue 
at  the  capital,  its  brilliant  and  successful  leader  riding 
proudly  at  its  head.  The  army  was  uniformed  and 
equipped  as  on  the  march,  officers  taking  pride  in  pre- 
senting their  respective  commands  as  they  had  served 
in  the  field.  Each  division  was  preceded  by  its  corps  of 
pioneers,  composed  wholly  of  colored  men,  carrying 
axes,  spades,  and  picks.  These  marched  in  double 
ranks,  keeping  perfect  dress  and  step.  Long  practice 
in  marching,  which  is  in  one  sense  a  drill,  and  the  almost 
entire  absence  of  recruits,  conscripts  and  substitutes, 
told  greatly  in  favor  of  the  western  troops,  and  the  sense 
of  military  propriety  and  exactness  was  not  offended  by 
demonstrations  of  applause. 

The  cadence  was  perfect  and  the  hearty  robustness 
of  the  men  was  very  striking,  while  the  mounts  of  the 
officers  were  magnificent,  owing  to  the  frequent  oppor- 
tunities for  capture.  All  day  long  Pennsylvania  avenue 
resounded  with  the  firm  and  steady  tread  of  well-drilled, 
thoroughly  disciplined  soldiers,  who  with  careful  dress 
on  the  guides,  uniform  intervals  between  the  companies, 
and  all  eyes  to  the  front,  marched  toward  the  White 
House. 

Around  the  joints  of  glittering  muskets  carried  in 
that  compact  column,  the  pungent  smell  of  battle  smoke 
still  lingered,  and  above  the  troops  were  borne  the  bul- 


322  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  May,  1865. 

let-riddled  flags,  many  of  whose  ragged  folds  were  stained 
with  the  life  blood  of  him  who  carried  it  in  the  fore  front 
of  battle.  In  that  majestic  column,  moving  with  the  pre- 
cision and  regularity  of  a  pendulum,  were  regiments 
that  had  entered  the  service  of  their  country  in  April, 
1 86 1,  and  that  had  served  in  every  state  that  engaged  in 
rebellion,  except  Florida,  Louisiana,  and  Texas;  that 
had  followed  Grant  at  Belmont,  Donelson,  Shiloh, 
Vicksburg,  and  Chattanooga,  and  that  had  never  left  a 
battlefield  in  possession  of  the  foe — brigades  and  divi- 
sions that  had  never  learned  to  retreat,  and  had  never 
experienced  the  sickening  woe  of  defeat.  An  unbroken 
career  of  victory  made  the  men  conscious  of  their  prow- 
ess, their  step  was  elastic  and  buoyant,  and  the  marching 
column  was  the  poetry  of  motion.  Not  so  well  dressed 
as  their  comrades  of  the  Eastern  army,  their  campaigns 
had  led  them  over  broader  fields,  and  their  experience 
had  been  more  varied  and  extended.  The  whole  army 
had  marched  more  than  a  thousand  miles  within  the  last 
six  months,  and  the  men  had  passed  the  entire  winter 
without  the  shelter  of  either  roof  or  tent.  It  had  been 
their  good  fortune  to  be  commanded  throughout  the 
war  by  officers  who  were  enterprising,  skillful  and  above 
all,  thoroughly  in  earnest,  there  had  been  no  occasion  for 
issuing  daily  bulletins  announcing  that  "All  is  quiet  on 
the  Mississippi  or  the  Tennessee."  No  army  in  either 
ancient  or  modern  times  had  traversed  such  a  vast  ex- 
tent of  territory,  and  the  prisoners  it  had  captured  largely 
outnumbered  the  men  in  the  Western  army,  now  cele- 
brating the  final  victory  of  peace. 

From  the  nature  of  the  conflict  the  Union  soldiers 
were  invaders,  and  from  first  to  last  they  were  the  ag- 


May,  1865.  THE  GRAND  REVIEW.  323 

gressors.  They  found  the  enemy  behind  defensible 
rivers  and  entrenched  in  mountain  passes.  The  road  to 
victory  led  them  over  mountains  of  difficulties  and 
through  valleys  of  tribulation ;  and  as  the  sanguine  tide 
ebbed  and  flowed  in  the  stupendous  struggle,  how  often 
Freedom's  friends  sat  pale  with  fear  at  Freedom's  peril ! 
But  at  last  the  mighty  balance  settled  on  the  side  of 
those  whose  banners,  torn  with  shot  and  shell,  still  bore 
the  stars  and  stripes.  In  that  supreme  moment,  while 
many  wounds  still  stung  and  bled,  the  Union  soldiers 
put  aside  the  desire  for  vengeance  that  comes  to  man  in 
battle  and  with  victory;  forgave  their  enemies  on  the 
battlefield,  and  sent  them  to  their  homes  to  enjoy  in 
peace  the  protection  of  the  government  they  had  so  un- 
justly and  wickedly  tried  to  destroy.  And  now,  as  the 
victorious  Union  armies  celebrate  the  return  of  peace, 
"With  malice  towards  none,  with  charity  for  all,"  they 
parade  no  captives,  and  display  none  of  the  spoil  of  bat- 
tlefield. 

Many  who  set  out  with  us,  indulging  the  same  fond 
hopes  of  safe  return,  now  filled  soldiers'  graves,  and  the 
applause  so  heartily  given  to  the  soldiers  present  was 
mingled  with  tears  for  the  loved  and  the  lost ;  those  who 
came  not  back.  Moreover,  the  great  emancipator,  the 
beloved  of  the  people,  had  been  most  foully  slain,  and 
but  few  days  had  passed  since  countless  multitudes  of 
people  had  bowed  with  uncovered  heads,  reverent  and 
silent,  before  his  bier.  The  remembrance  of  these 
national  bereavements  could  but  tinge  with  sadness  all 
the  splendid  and  inspiring  scenes  of  the  grand  review. 


324  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS.  May,  1865. 

After  the  review  the  Eighty-fifth  returned  to  camp 
on  the  south  bank  of  the  Potomac,  but  on  the  next  day 
the  entire  brigade  marched  through  the  city  and  went 
into  camp  near  the  Soldiers'  Home,  two  and  one-half 
miles  north  of  the  capitol.  Our  camp,  which  was  pleas- 
antly situated,  overlooked  the  city,  and  there  came  a 
delightful  sense  of  perfect  rest  after  a  long  and  toilsome 
task  had  been  accomplished ;  a  relief  from  the  tension 
of  nerve  and  brain,  no  language  can  adequately  express. 
The  men  were  permitted  to  roam  at  will  over  the  city, 
and  every  opportunity  was  given  them,  by  the  officers 
and  employes  in  the  various  departments,  to  visit  the 
public  buildings  and  to  observe  the  methods  employed 
in  the  transaction  of  the  business  of  the  government. 
The  treasury,  patent  office,  and  navy  yards,  all  were 
thrown  open  to  the  soldiers,  and  so  far  as  the  writer  has 
learned,  there  was  no  abuse  of  the  courtesy  extended. 
But  while  they  treated  the  civil  officers  of  the  govern- 
ment with  marked  consideration,  at  least  one  of  the  city 
officials  fell  a  victim  to  their  mischievous  pranks.  They 
seized  the  horse  and  buggy  used  by  the  captain  of  police, 
and  drove  until  tired  of  sight-seeing,  when  they  returned 
the  outfit  to  that  worthy  with  profuse  thanks  for  the 
pleasure  the  drive  had  afforded  them. 

Men  belonging  to  the  Fifteenth  corps  "captured,"  as 
they  facetiously  termed  it,  the  Fourteenth  street  rail- 
road, and  ran  it  for  their  own  convenience.  They  al- 
lowed a  citizen  to  ride,  but  were  careful  to  exact  the  full 
fare  or  more.  If  the  usual  five  cent  fare  was  tendered, 
it  was  accepted.  If  a  passenger  handed  up  a  quarter  or 
more,  the  soldier  acting  as  conductor  took  it,  but  re- 
turned no  change,  nor  did  he  turn  any  fares  in  to  the 


May,  1865.  IN  CAMP  AT  WASHINGTON.  325 

company.  The  line  was  far  from  being  popular  with  the 
citizens,  as  the  soldiers  ran  it  regardless  of  any  time 
table,  and  while  all  were  taken  on,  it  was  uncertain  where 
or  when  the  car  would  stop  to  let  them  off. 

At  Fort  Slemmer,  near  the  camp  of  the  Eighty-fifth, 
a  soldier  was  seen  one  morning  walking  up  and  down  in 
front  of  an  officer's  tent,  carrying  a  log  on  his  shoulder. 
The  soldier  looked  lonely  and  weary,  and  the  case  was 
promptly  investigated  by  a  man  sent  over  for  that  pur- 
pose, whose  report  showed  that  the  soldier  at  the  fort 
was  undergoing  punishment  for  some  trivial  breach  of 
discipline.  Then  a  number  of  unarmed  men  went  over 
to  the  fort;  dismissed  the  man  to  his  quarters;  warned 
the  officer  in  command  that  they  did  not  approve  of  that 
method  of  punishment,  and  brought  the  log  back  with 
them.  These  are  examples  of  their  daily  mischief; 
pranks  that  were  more  ludicrous  than  evil,  and  all  per- 
formed in  the  most  jovial,  good-natured  manner. 

Colonel  Dihvorth  was  promoted  to  be  brigadier  gen- 
eral on  March  I3th,  and  Captain  James  R.  Griffith,  of 
Company  B,  who  had  been  commanding  the  Eighty- 
fifth  since  the  resignation  of  Major  Robert  G.  Rider 
was  accepted  at  Savannah,  Georgia,  was  promoted 
to  be  lieutenant  colonel.  On  the  nineteenth  day  of 
May,  Captain  Pleasant  S.  Scott,  of  Company  E,  was 
commissioned,  major,  vice  Major  Rider,  who  had  re- 
signed on  account  of  wounds;  First  Lieutenant  Hugh 
A.  Trent  was  dismissed  from  the  service,  and  First  Ser- 
geant Charles  Borchert,  of  Company  E,  was  commis- 
sioned first  lieutenant;  First  Lieutenant  Andrew  J. 
Mason,  of  Company  F,  was  commissioned  captain,  and 
Sergeant  Francis  M.  McColgan,  of  same  company,  was 


326  HISTORY  OF  THE)  85TH  ILLINOIS.  June,  1865. 

commissioned  first  lieutenant.  But  on  account  of  the 
regiment  and  companies  being  below  the  minimum, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Griffith  was  the  only  one  that  could 
be  mustered. 

On  Saturday,  June  3rd,  our  old  and  loved  com- 
mander. George  H.  Thomas,  arrived  from  the  west,  and 
that  evening  reviewed  the  Fourteenth  corps.  The 
troops  in  the  Department  of  the  Cumberland  had  been 
designated  the  "Fourteenth  corps"  very  early  in  the  war, 
and  it  became  the  nucleus  of  the  army  which  he  led  with 
such  consummate  skill  in  later  years.  He  had  com- 
manded the  corps  until  his  merit  won  for  him  the  com- 
mand of  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland,  and  the  men  had 
become  greatly  attached  to  him.  They  believed  then, 
and  they  still  think,  that  George  H.  Thomas,  "pure  as 
crystal  and  firm  as  rock,"  was  the  greatest  soldier  Vir- 
ginia, the  mother  of  presidents,  gave  to  either  side  in  the 
Civil  War. 

The  last  muster  rolls  were  made  out,  and  on  Mon- 
day, the  5th,  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  of  the  ser- 
vice of  the  United  States  by  Lieutenant  George 
Scroggs,  of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-fifth  Illinois, 
acting  commissary  of  musters,  and  the  next  morning 
the  Eighty-fifth  was  ordered  to  Springfield,  111.,  for  final 
payment  and  discharge.  The  four  regiments  and  bat- 
tery that  formed  Dan  McCook's  brigade  at  Louisville, 
Ky.,  in  the  early  days  of  September,  1862,  had  come  to 
the  parting  of  the  ways.  Brought  together  by  a  com- 
mon peril  and  for  a  common  purpose,  they  had  marched 
and  camped  and  fought  side  by  side  for  almost  three 
years.  Their  long,  hard  service  inspired  perfect  confi- 
dence and  trust  in  each  other,  and  while  the  organization 


DR.  JOSEPH  13.   SHA.WGO, 

COMPANY  O. 


327 


HbRARY 

Of    ' 
UNIVWSIT.Y 


June,  1865.  THE  HOMEWARD  JOURNEY.  329 

ended  here,  the  comradeship  formed  in  camp  and  field 
will  last  as  long  as  life  remains.* 

About  noon  the  regiment  marched  to  the  Baltimore 
and  Ohio  railroad,  where  a  delay  occurred  in  securing 
transportation,  and  the  freight  cars  provided  for  our 
accommodation  did  not  arrive  until  the  afternoon  of  the 
7th.  At  Piedmont  that  night  the  men  seized  enough 
lumber  from  a  convenient  lumberyard  to  comfortably 
seat  the  dirty  freight  cars,  and  with  the  use  of  their 
hatchets  they  not  only  secured  ventilation,  but  made 
openings  through  which  they  could  admire  the  pictur- 
esque scenery  afforded  by  the  Allegheny  mountains. 
At  Parkersburgh,  W.  Va.,  the  regiment  was  transferred 
to  a  stern-wheel  steamer,  which  landed  it  at  Lawrence- 
burgh,  Ind.,  on  the  forenoon  of  the  loth. 

Between  Cincinnati  and  Lawrenceburgh  an  accident 
happened  which  lent  a  tinge  of  sorrow  to  the  home- 
coming of  the  regiment.  Hugh  Gehagan,  of  Company 
F,  while  standing  on  the  lower  deck  of  the  steamer  en- 
gaged in  conversation  with  a  group  of  comrades 
thoughtlessly  leaned  against  a  fender,  fastened  at  the 
upper  end,  but  hanging  loose  at  the  lower  guard,  and  he 
fell  into  the  river.  At  the  cry  of  "A  man  overboard" 
the  boat  was  quickly  stopped  and  every  effort  possible 
was  made  to  rescue  the  drowning  man.  But  he  sunk  to 
rise  no  more  with  the  life-boat  almost  within  his  reach. 


*  Tne  number  mustered  in  and  the  number  present  at  the 
muster  out  of  the  four  original  regiments  did  not  greatly  differ, 
as  appears  by  the  following:  52nd  Ohio  mustered  first  and  last, 
1,089,  of  whom  331  were  present  at  muster  out;  85th  Illinois  mus- 
tered first  and  last,  944,  of  whom  349  were  present  at  muster  out; 
86th  Illinois  mustered  first  and  last,  993,  of  whom  468  were  pres- 
ent at  muster  out;  125th  Illinois  mustered  first  and  last,  933,  of 
whom  424  were  present  at  muster  out. 

20 


330  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH ILUNOIS.  June,  1865. 

It  seemed  hard  that  this  faithful  soldier  who  had  dared 
and  suft'ered  so  much  should  meet  such  a  tragic  death 
when  almost  within  sight  of  home,  while  his  co^'-ades 
could  only  stand  idly  by  and  watch  a  life  go  out  that  thev 
were  powerless  to  save. 

After  breaking  bread  with  the  loyal  and  hospitable 
people  of  Lawrenceburg,  who  had  generously  provided 
a  substantial  dinner  for  the  soldiers,  the  homeward  jour- 
ney was  resumed  on  board  a  train  of  freight  cars.  Such 
trains  ran  slowly  in  those  days,  but  on  Sunday,  June 
nth,  1865,  the  regiment  reached  Springfield  and  disem- 
barked at  Camp  Butler,  where  the  men  were  to  receive 
-final  payment  and  be  discharged. 

A  safe  trip  has  brought  the  soldiers  almost  home, 
and  as  they  enter  the  camp  in  which  their  service  is  to 
end,  strange  memories  come  trooping  past.  Eventful 
years  have  passed  since  they  proudly  marched  from 
Peoria  for  the  front.  Then  the  long  line  with  faces  mainly 
young  and  fair,  numbered  almost  one  thousand  men; 
now  some  are  missing  from  every  file;  all  are  bronzed, 
and  many  are  prematurely  old,  while  the  total  mustered 
for  discharge  is  less  than  four  hundred.  With  sadness 
they  recall  the  forms  and  faces  of  the  slain;  mostly 
young,  unmarried  men,  whose  native  virtues  fill  no  liv- 
ing veins,  and  will  not  shine  again  on  any  field.  The 
contrast  between  the  going  and  returning  braves  is  no 
more  striking  than  the  changed  conditions  they  must 
prepare  to  meet.  Many  of  them  were  school  boys  when 
they  enlisted,  but  they  are  now  too  old  to  begin  again  at 
the  turned-down  page  of  the  books  they  left  unfinished. 
Others  had  positions  three  years  ago,  now  filled  by  per- 
sons too  prudent  to  serve  their  country.  But  unselfish 
devotion  to  duty  has  broadened  their  manhood ;  the 
hardships  endured  and  the  difficulties  overcome  have 
given  the  soldiers  confidence  in  themselves,  and  they  are 


June,  1865.  THE  HOMEWARD  JOURNEY.  331 

determined  to  cultivate  the  arts  of  peace  with  a  soldier's 
fortitude  and  patriotism — a  citizen's  industry  and  integ- 
rity. 

The  next  few  days  found  the  officers  busy  with  their 
reports,  turning'  in  ordnance  stores  and  camp  equipage, 
and  making  settlement  with  the  government.  All  arti- 
cles not  otherwise  accounted  for  were  reported  under 
the  head  of  "Lost  in  action."  This  account  was  alike 
the  refuge  of  the  "just  and  the  unjust,"  and  furnished  a 
safe  retreat  for  many  a  quartermaster,  ordnance  officer 
and  company  commander,  whose  accounts  had  got 
tangled.  When  the  reports  were  completed  the  pay- 
master announced  his  readiness  to  pay  off  the  men,  and 
on  Monday,  the  iQth,  the  first  sergeants  called  the  roll 
for  the  last  time ;  each  soldier  received  his  arrears  of  pay 
and  an  honorable  discharge,  and  the  Eighty-fifth  regi- 
ment, Illinois  volunteer  infantry,  passed  into  history. 

Of  the  944  officers  and  men  that  entered  the  service 
in  the  Eighty-fifth,  95  were  killed  or  died  of  wounds,  148 
were  wounded  whose  wounds  did  not  prove  fatal,  137 
died  of  disease,  208  were  discharged  for  disease  or 
wounds,  46  were  transferred  to  other  organizations,  and 
349  were  mustered  out — to  await  the  hero's  final  detail : 

An  aged  soldier,  with  his  hair 

snow  white, 
Sat  looking  at  the  night. 

A  busy,  shining  angel  came 

with  things 
Like  chevrons  on  his  wings. 

He  said,  "The  evening  detail  has 

been  made — 
Report  to  your  brigade." 

The  soldier  heard  the  message  that 

was  sent, 
Then  rose  and  died  and  went. 

EUGENE  F.  WARE, 

Private,  Company  E,  First  Iowa  Vol.  Infantry. 


332  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 


In  the  following  pages  the  military  history  of  all  who 
had  a  part  in  making  the  regiment  illustrious  is  given, 
together  with  some  account  of  the  subsequent  career  of 
those  with  whom  the  writer  has  been  able  to  communi- 
cate. This  is  a  record  of  deeds  done  and  duty  per- 
formed, which,  although  brief,  and  in  many  instances  in- 
complete, is  their  best  eulogy. 

As  originally  made  up,  the  roster  of  the  field  and  staff 
of  the  Eighty-fifth  will  be  found  in  Chapter  II,  together 
with  the  manner  in  which  the  regiment  was  recruited 
and  organized.  In  subsequent  chapters  all  changes 
among  the  commissioned  officers  are  recorded  at  tfie 
time  and  place  they  occurred.  It  is  therefore  only  nec- 
essary, in  this  connection,  to  give  a  personal  sketch  of 

THE  FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

COLONEL  ROBERT  S.  MOORE  was  born  in  Green  county ,. 
Kentucky,  March  19,  1827.  When  he  was  ten  years  of  age  his  par- 
ents removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Sangamon  (now 
Menard)  county,  where  he  worked  on  the  farm  until  the  breaking 
out  of  the  Mexican  war.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  F, 
Fourth  regiment,  Illinois  infantry,  and  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Cerro  Gtordo  and  in  the  siege  of  Vera  Cruz.  At  the  peace  with 
Mexico  he  returned  to  Illinois,  located  his  land  warrant  in  Mason 
county  and  engaged  in  farming.  While  thus  engaged  he  founded 
the  town  of  Spring  Lake.  In  1854  he  married  Miss  Isabella  Trent, 
removed  to  Havana  and  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  grain, 
while  still  paying  attention  to  his  farm. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  he  promptly 
offered  his  service  to  his  country,  recruited  a  company  and  en- 
tered the  service  as  captain  of  Company  E,  Twenty-seventh  regi- 
ment, Illinois  infantry.  He  was  engaged  at  the  battles  of  Bel- 
mont  and  Farmington,  and  at  the  siege  of  Corinth  he  was 
wounded.  While  at  home  on  leave  of  absence  on  account  of  his 


THE  FIELD  AND  STAFF.  333 

wound  he  was  authorized  by  Governor  Yates  to  raise  a  regiment 
under  the  first  call  for  troops  in  1862,  and  upon  its  organization  he 
was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  Eighty-fifth. 

Of  commanding  appearance,  he  possessed  an  admirable  voice, 
while  his  soldierly  instinct  and  military  experience  enabled  him 
to  fit  the  regiment  for  effective  service  in  a  remarka'bly  short 
time.  With  his  regiment  he  opened  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky., 
and  at  the  close  of  the  fighting  he  was  complimented  for  his  skill 
and  courage  by  his  superior  officers.  At  the  battle  of  Stone  River 
he  was  injured  in  the  hip  by  a  vicious  horse,  an  injury  from  which 
he  never  wholly  recovered.  He  remained  in  command  of  the  regi- 
ment until  the  following  June,  when  he  resigned  for  disability. 
No  officer  ever  enjoyed  more  fully  the  confidence  of  his  men,  and 
few  so  fully  merited  it.  He  returned  to  Havana  and  resumed  the 
grain  business  until  1879,  when  he  removed  to  Colorado  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  mining.  His  address  is  Littleton,  Colo. 

COLONEL  CALEB  J.  DILWORTH  was  born  near  Mount  Pleas- 
ant, Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  April  8,  1827.  His  parents,  Abram 
Rankin  Dilworth  and  Martha  Stanton  Judkins,  were  of  old  Quaker 
stock.  They  removed  to  Indiana,  and  soon  after  to  Illinois. 
They  were  living  near  Canton,  in  Fulton  county,  at  the  time  of  the 
Black  Hawk  war,  and  took  refuge  with  friends  in  Canton  when 
there  was  an  Indian  alarm.  An  elder  brother,  Rankin,  gradu- 
ated from  the  military  academy  at  West  Point  in  the  class  of  1844, 
and  died  from  wounds  received  at  the  battle  of  Monterey  in  the 
war  with  Mexico.  A  half-brother,  William  H.  Evans,  was  quar- 
termaster of  the  Eighty-fifth  during  the  last  year  of  its  service. 

Colonel  Dilworth  read  law  with  General  Leonard  F.  Ross,  of 
Lewistown,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1848.  In  the  fall  of 
1853  he  married  Miss  Emily  Phelps,  daughter  of  William  and 
Caroline  Phelps,  of  Lewistown,  111.,  the  only  issue  of  such  mar- 
riage being  a  son,  William  A.,  now  practicing  law  in  Omaha,  Neb. 

In  1862  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  practicing  law  in  Ha- 
vana, 111.,  and  assisted  in  recruiting  the  Eighty-fifth,  and  at  the 
organization  of  the  regiment  was  commissioned  lieutenant  col- 
onel. He  served  in  that  capacity  until  Colonel  Moore  resigned, 
when  he  was  promoted  to  be  colonel.  He  commanded  the  regi- 
ment from  June  14,  1863,  until  June  27,  1864,  when,  in  the  midst  of 
the  indescribable  turmoil  of  battle  at  Kennesaw  mountain,  Geor- 
gia, the  command  of  the  brigade  devolved  upon  him  through  the 
death  of  his  seniors.  It  was  his  plucky  decision  that  held  the 


334  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

ground  wrested  from  the  enemy,  although  his  corps  and  army 
commanders  doubted  its  possibility.  At  Peach  Tree  creek  his 
brigade  forced  a  crossing  of  that  stream,  although  defended  by 
largely  superior  numbers,  fighting  the  battle  out  alone  with  the 
Third  brigade,  and  winning  for  himself  and  his  command  the 
highest  commendations  of  his  superiors.  He  continued  in  com- 
mand of  the  brigade  until  wounded  by  a  gun  shot  at  the  battle  of 
Jonesboro,  Ga.,  the  ball  passing  entirely  through  his  neck.  Re- 
covering from  his  wound,  he  was  hastening  to  the  front  to  rejoin 
his  command  when,  upon  his  arrival  at  Chattanooga,  he  found 
that  communication  with  Sherman's  army  had  been  severed.  He 
reported  to  General  Thomas  for  duty  and  was  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  post  at  Cleveland,  Tenn.,  a  position  which  he  held 
with  credit  to  himself  until  the  post  was  discontinued.  He  was 
then  assigned  to  command  at  Covington,  Ky.,  where  he  remained 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  commissioned  brevet  brigadier 
general  March  13,  and  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  June  5, 
1865. 

After  returning  to  Illinois  he  practiced  law  at  Lewistown  until 
the  autumn  of  1870,  when  he  removed  to  Lincoln,  Neb.,  where  he 
resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was  elected  state's 
attorney  in  1874  and  served  two  terms.  In  1878  he  was  elected 
attorney  general,  holding  the  office  for  two  terms,  and  in  1892  he 
was  elected  department  commander  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  of  Nebraska  and  served  one  term. 

As  a  soldier  he  was  enterprising  and  fearless;  he  won  merited 
distinction  at  the  bar.  He  had  retired  from  active  professional 
life  and  was  residing  in  Omaha,  where  he  died  on  Saturday,  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1900.  His  remains  were  taken  to  Lincoln  and  buried  in 
Wyuka  cemetery  on  the  Monday  following,  past  department  com- 
manders acting  as  pall-bearers,  while  department  officers  con- 
ducted the  services. 

LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  JAMES  P.  WALKER,  son  of  Joseph 
Walker,  was  born  in  Adair  county,  Kentucky,  April  6,  1826.  His 
father,  Joseph  Walker,  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Sangamon  (now  Logan)  county  in  1830.  Seven  years  later 
found  the  Walker  family  at  Irish  Grove,  in  Menard  county,  where 
his  father  died  in  1841,  leaving  a  crippled  wife  and  younger  son  to 
the  care  of  James  P.  He  took  his  mother  to  his  mother's  father 
in  Kentucky,  where  he  remained  for  three  years,  working  on  a 
farm  to  get  money  to  return  to  Illinois.  He  was  fortunate  in  that 


THE  FIELD  AND  STAFF.  335 

his  father  was  an  educated  mail,  as  all  his  schooling  was  obtained 
from  his  father  before  his  death.  On  his  return  to  Illinois  in  1844 
he  began  the  study  of  medicine  and  by  working  on  the  farm  and 
teaching  school  he  earned  the  money  which  enabled  him  to  prose- 
cute his  studies. 

When  the  war  with  Mexico  broke  out  he  enlisted  in  Company 
F,  Fourth  regiment,  Illinois  infantry,  commanded  by  Colonel 
Edward  D.  Baker,  was  a  messmate  of  Colonel  R.  S.  Moore  and 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Cerro  Gordo  and  the  siege  of  Vera 
Cruz.  After  the  war  he  resumed  the  study  of  medicine  and  gradu- 
ated from  Rush  Medical  College  in  1850.  In  1857  he  located  at 
Mason  City  and  was  practicing  his  profession  when  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion  began.  Under  the  first  call  for  troops  in  1861  he 
recruited  a  company  and  entered  the  service  as  captain  of  Com- 
pany K,  Seventeenth  regiment,  Illinois  infantry.  He  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Fredericktown,  Fort  Donelson  and  Shiloh.  After 
the  battle  of  Shiloh  he  resigned,  returned  home,  helped  to  raise 
the  Eighty-fifth,  and  at  the  organization  of  the  regiment  he  was 
commissioned  surgeon.  He  was  promoted  to  be  lieutenant  colonel 
on  June  14,  1863,  and  was  dismissed  from  the  service  on  October 
6,  3863. 

Just  prior  to  the  battle  of  Chickamauga  he  was  arrested  for 
permitting  his  hungry  men  to  forage,  that  being  at  that  period  of 
the  war  about  the  worst  thing  an  officer  could  be  accused  of.  Un- 
fortunately for  Colonel  Walker  he  did  not  violate  his  order  of 
arrest  when  the  battle  came  on.  If  he  had  no  doubt  he  would 
have  escaped  punishment.  But  his  remaining  under  arrest 
afforded  an  opportunity  for  those  whom  his  kindness  to  his  men 
had  offended,  and  he  was  summarily  dismissed  without  a  hearing. 

He  returned  to  his  former  home  and  resumed  the  practice  of 
medicine,  which  he  continued  to  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
January  14,  1892.  He  was  buried  by  his  comrades  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  a  special  train  carrying  the  post  from 
Havana  to  Mason  City  to  attend  his  funeral. 

LIEUTENANT  COLONEL  JAMES  R.  GRIFFITH  was  born  in 
Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  2,  1834.  He  served  for 
some  time  as  a  member  of  the  Chester  and  Delaware  Dragoons, 
and  removed  to  Illinois  in  the  fall  of  1856,  locating  at  Havana,  in 
Mason  county,  where  he  was  engaged  as  a  general  merchant  at  the 
beginning  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  He  enrolled  Company  B, 
of  the  Eighty-fifth,  and  was  chosen  captain  at  the  organization  of 


336  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

the  company.  He  participated  in  all  the  campaigns  and  battles  in 
which  the  Eighty-fifth  was  engaged,  was  wounded  at  the  assault 
on  Kennesaw  mountain,  but  speedily  recovered  and  returned  to 
duty.  At  the  assault  on  the  enemy's  works  at  Jonesboro  the  com- 
mand of  the  regiment  devolved  upon  him  when  Major  Rider  was 
wounded  and  disabled,  and  again  he  succeeded  to  the  command  of 
the  regiment  when  Major  Rider  resigned,  and  led  it  through  the 
Carolina  campaign,  on  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  and  on 
its  return  to  the  state  for  final  discharge. 

He  was  promoted  to  be  lieutenant  colonel  on  April  7,  18G5,  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  After  the  close  of  the  war 
he  located  in  Kenosha,  Wis.,  where  he  engaged  in  business.  His 
present  address  is  No.  812  Pomeroy  street,  Kenosha,  Wis. 

MAJOR  SAMUEL  P.  CUMMINGS  had  long  been  prominent  as 
a  merchant  in  Astoria  when  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  began.  He 
had  also  been  prominent  in  affairs  political  in  the  county  and  fre- 
quently served  as  a  member  of  the  county  board.  Early  in  the 
war  he  had  been  commissioned  a  mustering  officer  with  the  rank 
of  major,  and  had  assisted  in  recruiting  several  of  the  early  regi- 
ments. He  enrolled  two  companies  for  the  Eighty-fifth  and  at  the 
organization  of  the  regiment  he  was  chosen  major.  He  was  favor- 
ably mentioned  for  gallant  conduct  at  the  battle  of  Perry ville  by 
his  colonel  and  brigade  commander,  served  through  the  Kentucky 
campaign,  and  participated  with  the  regiment  in  the  battle  of 
Stone  River  or  Murfreesboro.  Failing  health,  however,  compelled 
him  to  resign  at  Nashville,  and  his  resignation  was  approved  for 
disability  on  April  6,  1863. 

He  returned  to  Astoria,  where  he  continued  in  business  until 
within  the  last  few  years,  and  where  he  still  resides.  He  has 
served  his  constituents  as  supervisor,  judge  of  the  county  court, 
and  has  represented  his  county  in  both  branches  of  the  legislature. 
Possessed  of  an  ample  fortune  he  is  now  enjoying  a  ripe  old  age 
among  the  people  he  served  so  long. 

MAJOR  ROBERT  G.  RIDER  was  born  in  Ravenna,  Portage 
county,  Ohio,  March  14,  1831,  attended  Jefferson  college  at  Can- 
nonsburg,  and  studied  medicine  at  Washington  college,  Washing- 
ton, Pa.  He  removed  to  Illinois  in  1855  and  the  following  winter 
attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  a  medical  college,  Dubuque,  Iowa. 
He  began  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Mobile,  Ala.,  but  re- 
turned to  Illinois  some  three  years  later,  and  at  the  beginning  of 


THE  FIELD  AND  STAFF.  337 

the  War  of  the  Rebellion  was  practicing  medicine  at  Havana,  in 
Mason  county. 

He  enrolled  Company  K  and  was  elected  captain  of  that  com- 
pany at  its  organization,  commanded  the  company  at  the  battle  of 
Perryville,  through  the  Kentucky  and  Murfreesboro  campaigns, 
and  was  promoted  to  be  major  of  the  regiment  April  6,  1863.  He 
was  appointed  provost  marshal  when  the  brigade  was  assigned 
to  garrison  duty  at  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  but  returned  to  duty 
with  the  regiment  when  the  brigade  was  ordered  to  Nashville  to 
prepare  for  an  active  campaign  at  the  front.  When  In  the  assault 
on  Kennesaw  mountain  .Colonel  Dilworth  was  called  to  command 
the  brigade,  the  command  of  the  Eighty-fifth  devolved  upon 
Major  Rider.  He  retained  command  of  the  regiment  until  dis- 
abled by  a  gun  shot  wound  in  the  head  at  the  assault  upon  the 
enemy's  lines  at  Jonesboro,  Ga.  Recovering,  at  least  partially, 
from  his  wound  he  resumed  command  of  the  regiment,  which  he 
led  in  the  march  to  the  sea.  He  resigned  at  Savannah,  Ga.,  De- 
cember 19,  1864. 

Returning  to  Havana  he  resumed  the  practice  of  medicine, 
which  he  continued  until  1880,  when  he  removed  to  Mount  Ayr, 
Iowa.  In  1884  he  retired  from  the  active  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, but  resided  in  Mount  Ayr  to  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  on  November  14,  1899. 

ADJUTANT  JOHN  B.  WRIGHT  was  commissioned  adjutant 
from  Havana  at  the  organization  of  the  regiment,  served  through 
tho  Kentucky  and  Murfreesboro  campaigns,  participating  in  the 
battles  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  and  Stone  River,  Tenn.  He  resigned 
February  23,  1863,  and  returned  to  Havana,  where  he  died  many 
years  since. 

ADJUTANT  CLARK  N.  ANDRUS,  son  of  Cyrenus  W.  Andrus 
and  Lucy  Rockwell,  was  born  in  Havana,  111.,  February  21,  1843. 
His  parents  removed  from  Watertown,  N.  Y..  to  Havana  in  1836, 
and  Clark  N.  was  the  only  living  child  when  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany K.  At  the  organization  of  the  regiment  he  was  appointed 
sergeant  major  and  participated  in  the  battles  of  Perryville,  Ky., 
and  Stone  River,  Tenn.  He  was  promoted  to  be  second  lieutenant 
of  Company  E,  January  20,  1863,  and  to  be  adjutant  on  the  23rd 
of  the  following  February.  He  participated  in  all  the  battles  and 
campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged  until  severely 
wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  mountain,  Georgia.  His 


338  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

arm  was  amputated  in  the  field  hospital,  after  which  he  was  taken 
to  Hospital  No.  3  at  Nashville,  where  gangrene  set  in  and  his  arm 
was  reamputated.  But  medical  and  surgical  skill  was  of  no  avail, 
and  this  promising  young  officer  died  on  July  23,  1864.  His  father 
was  with  him  when  the  final  summons  came,  and  brought  his 
remains  back  to  Havana,  where  they  were  buried  by  the  side  of 
his  devoted  mother. 

ADJUTANT  PRESTON  C.  HUDSON  was  born  at  Milton,  Pike 
county,  Illinois,  August  20,  1844,  and  while  yet  a  child  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Havana,  in  Mason  county.  He  was  attending 
school  when  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  began,  and  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  I.  He  was  promoted  to  be  first  lieutenant  of 
his  company,  October  27,  1863,  and  to  be  adjutant  of  the  regiment 
on  July  23,  1864,  and  served  in  that  position  until  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  By  saving  money  earned  in  the  army  he  was 
enabled  to  take  a  course  in  the  University  of  Michigan,  and  after 
graduating  from  that  institution  he  located  at  Fort  Dodge,  Iowa, 
where  he  read  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1871.  Always 
studious,  he  took  high  rank  at  the  bar,  and  was  twice  the  nominee 
of  his  party  for  judge  of  the  court  of  common  pleas,  but  was 
defeated  by  a  narrow  margin.  He  removed  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  in 
1884,  where  he  continued  the  practice  of  his  profession  until  over- 
taken by  a  stroke  of  apoplexy  in  August,  1897.  His  death  came  as 
sudden  as  it  might  have  come  on  the  battlefield,  he  being  found 
dead  in  his  office,  the  opinion  of  the  doctors  being  that  his  death 
was  from  apoplexy,  induced  by  the  heat. 

QUARTERMASTER  SAMUEL  F.  WRIGHT  was  commissioned 
quartermaster  with  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  regiment,  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and 
was  dismissed  from  the  service  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  November  21, 
1862.  He  appears  to  have  regarded  his  office  as  a  private  snap, 
the  charges  under  which  he  was  dismissed  stating  that  he  had 
issued  vouchers  on  the  government  for  a  carriage  for  private  use. 
He  returned  to  Havana,  where  he  died  many  years  since. 

QUARTERMASTER  HOLOWAY  W.  LIGHTCAP  was  born  at 
Milford,  Hunterdon  county,  N.  J.,  October  2,  1826,  and  removed  to 
Illinois  in  1856.  He  was  a  merchant  tailor,  residing  in  Havana, 
when  he  was  commissioned  quartermaster  to  succeed  Samuel  F. 
Wright,  December  1,  1862.  He  was  wounded  by  his  horse  falling 
on  him,  and  resigned  for  disability  July  20,  1863.  He  returned  to 


THE  FIELD  AND  STAFF.  339 

Havana,  and  has  been  engaged  as  a  commercial  traveler  most  of 
the  time  since.    His  address  is  Havana,  111. 

QUARTERMASTER  WILLIAM  H.  EVANS  was  a  half-brother 
of  Colonel  Dilworth,  and  when  he  entered  the  service  was  twenty- 
five  years  of  age.  He  had  been  a  clerk  in  the  county  offices  at 
Havana,  and  had  become  very  accurate  in  his  methods  of  con- 
ducting business,  but  was  residing  at  Vermont,  in  Fulton  county, 
when  he  was  appointed  quartermaster  of  the  regiment  on  Janu- 
ary 14,  1864.  He  served  in  that  position  until  the  war  closed,  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Soon  after  his  return  to 
Illinois  he  removed  to  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he  died  on  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1872. 

SURGEON  JAMES  P.  WALKER  (promoted  lieutenant  col- 
onel). 

SURGEON  PHILIP  L.  DIEFFENBACHER  was  born  in  Colum- 
bia county,  Pennsylvania,  February  6,  1830.  His  father,  Daniel 
Dieffenbacher,  descended  from  German  ancestors,  who  settled  in 
eastern  Pennsylvania.  His  mother  was  Catherine  (Long)  Dieffen- 
bacher, whose  parental  ancestors  were  German,  and  settled  in 
Virginia.  Her  maternal  ancestors,  named  Springer,  came  from 
Stockholm,  Sweden,  and  settled  in  Wilmington,  Del.,  at  an  early 
date. 

He  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1837  and  settled  on 
a  farm  in  Tazewell  (now  Mason)  county,  and  while  helping  his 
father  improve  and  cultivate  the  farm,  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
availed  himself  of  every  opportunity  to  gain  an  education.  In  the 
fall  of  1849  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  entered  the  academy 
at  Newville,  in  Columbia  county,  where  he  pursued  his  studies 
until  the  summer  of  1851,  when  he  returned  to  Illinois.  He  taught 
the  first  school  ever  held  in  the  Dieffenbacher  school  house,  six 
miles  east  of  Havana,  during  the  winter  of  1851-2.  Returning  to 
Pennsylvania  in  the  autumn  of  1852,  he  entered  the  office  of  his 
maternal  uncle,  Dr.  Philip  H.  Long,  at  Mechanicsburg,  where  he 
read  medicine  until  September,  1853,  when  he  entered  Jefferson 
Medical  College  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  and  graduated  in  the  degree 
of  doctor  in  medicine  in  March,  1855.  After  taking  a  course  of 
one  year  in  Blockley  hospital,  West  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  he  opened 
his  first  office  for  practice  in  Mount  Joy,  Lancaster  County,  Penn- 
sylvania. In  the  spring  of  1856  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  located 


340  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

in  Havana,  where  he  has  since  resided  and  practiced  his  profes- 
sion, except  three  years'  service  in  the  army. 

In  July,  1862,  he  was  appointed  assistant  post  surgeon  to  the 
military  camp  at  Peoria,  111.,  and  at  the  organization  of  the 
Eighty-fifth  he  was  commissioned  first  assistant  surgeon  of  the 
regiment.  He  was  promoted  to  be  surgeon  with  the  rank  of  major 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  14,  1863,  and  served  in  that  capacity  to 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Returning  to  Havana  at  the  close  of  his  service,  he  resumed  the 
practice  of  his  profession,  and  soon  after  his  return  was  appointed 
United  States  examining  surgeon  of  pensions,  holding  the  office 
until  1893,  when  he  resigned. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  following  societies:  The  American 
Medical  Association,  the  International  Association  of  Railway 
Surgeons,  the  Illinois  State  Medical  Society,  the  Illinois  State 
Historical  Society,  the  Army  and  Navy  Surgeons'  Association  (a 
charter  member),  the  Brainard  District  Medical  Association  (one 
of  the  organizers  and  president  in  1880-1),  the  Dan  McCook  Bri- 
gade Association,  the  Regimental  Association  (one  of  the  organ- 
izers and  president  until  1889),  and  was  president  of  the  board  of 
education  for  nine  years. 

On  May  17,  1874,  he  married  Miss  Martha  M.  Mitchell,  whose 
parental  and  maternal  ancestors  served  in  the  War  of  the  Revolu- 
tion. Their  living  children  are:  Martha  M.,  Edith  L.  and  Philip 
D.  Three  others  died  in  infancy,  namely,  Robert,  Morton  and 
Mable. 

FIRST  ASSISTANT  SURGEON  GILBERT  W.  SOUTHWICK 
was  born  in  Troy,  Rensselaer  county,  New  York,  July  26,  1810; 
removed  to  Illinois  in  1836,  and  at  the  beginning  of  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion  was  practicing  medicine  at  Arcadia,  in  Morgan 
county.  He  was  commissioned  first  assistant  surgeon  in  the 
Eighty-fifth  August  6,  1864,  and  served  as  such  until  May  15th, 
1865,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged.  He  removed  to  Califor- 
nia in  1881,  where  he  now  lives  retired  from  active  practice,  the 
oldest  surviving  member  of  the  regiment.  His  address  is  No.  1213 
Bath  street,  Santa  Barbara,  Cal. 

SECOND  ASSISTANT  SURGEON  JAMES  C.  PATTERSON 
was  born  in  Adair  county,  Kentucky,  in  1824,  and  removed  with 
his  father,  John  Patterson,  to  Illinois  in  1828,  locating  in  Sanga- 
mon  (now  Menard)  county.  In  1845  James  began  the  study  of 


THE  FIELD  AND  STAFF.  341 

medicine  with  Dr.  Grinstead  at  Middletown,  attended  lectures  at 
Jacksonville,  paying  his  tuition  by  serving  as  janitor  of  the  col- 
lege during  the  terms  of  1846-7-8.  He  then  entered  Rush  Medical 
college  at  Chicago  and  was  graduated  in  1849.  He  began  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  on  Prairie  creek  in  Logan  county,  where  he 
remained  until  1859,  when  he  removed  to  Mason  City,  in  Mason 
county.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Company  C,  and  was  pro- 
moted hospital  steward  at  the  organization  of  the  regiment,  and 
on  September  1,  1862,  he  was  commissioned  second  assistant  sur- 
geon. He  served  with  the  regiment  until  April  16,  1864,  when  he 
resigned  for  disability.  He  returned  to  Mason  City,  resumed  the 
practice  of  medicine,  and  died  in  1871.  During  the  latter  years  of 
his  life  he  was  greatly  afflicted  with  what  he  and  other  doctors 
who  saw  him  thought  was  rheumatism,  but  which  finally  resulted 
in  ataxia. 

CHAPLAIN  JOSEPH  S.  BARWICK  was  born  in  Maryland, 
September  22,  1815,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Indiana 
when  about  seven  years  of  age,  locating  on  a  farm  near  Brook- 
ville,  in  Franklin  county.  He  graduated  from  Asbury  (now  De 
Pauw)  University,  and  was  ordained  a  minister  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  in  1837.  After  filling  pastorates  in  Evansville 
and  Indianapolis,  he  received  the  degree  of  doctor  of  divinity  from 
the  university  from  which  he  graduated.  In  the  fall  of  1850  he 
removed  to  Jacksonville,  111.,  to  accept  the  professorship  of  Latin 
in  the  Illinois  Conference  Female  College.  He  continued  teach- 
ing some  six  years,  but  was  preaching  at  Havana  when  he  was 
commissioned  chaplain  at  the  organization  of  the  Eighty-fifth. 
This  was  an  office  so  often  filled  by  clerical  adventurers  that  the 
men  watched  and  waited  before  placing  their  confidence  in  the 
chaplain.  The  position  was  as  difficult  as  it  was  thankless,  and 
he  who  would  fill  it  worthily  must  be  pure  in  heart,  chaste  in  act 
and  clean  in  speech.  Chaplain  Barwick  was  thus  equipped,  and 
his  presence  put  the  men  upon  their  honor.  His  care  of  the  sick, 
kindly  aid  to  the  wounded  and  hearty  sympathy  for  those  in 
trouble,  sealed  the  bond  between  him  and  the  men  which  will  hold 
good  to  the  end  of  their  lives. 

He  served  through  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  reg- 
iment. In  1866  he  removed  to  Missouri  and  became  principal  of  a 
college  at  Glasgow,  and  later  was  in  charge  of  a  church  at  Saint 
Joseph.  Returning  to  Illinois,  he  preached  some  three  years  at 
Griggs'  Chapel,  near  Beardstown,  and  in  1877  he  was  transferred 


342  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

to  the  Missouri  conference,  and  in  1878  was  the  presiding  elder  of 
the  Linneus  circuit.  He  was  residing  in  Linneus,  Mo.,  and  had 
been  superanuated  a  year  or  more  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  on  October  5,  1890. 

SERGEANT  MAJOR  CLARK  N.  ANDRUS  (promoted  adju- 
tant) . 

SERGEANT  MAJOR  WILLIAM  S.  ALLEN  was  born  in  La 
Porte,  La  Porte  county,  Indiana,  January  27,  1840,  and  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1854.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  from 
Havana,  and  -was  chosen  first  sergeant  at  the  organization  of  Com- 
pany B  and  promoted  to  be  sergeant  major  in  1863.  He  served 
with  the  regiment  until  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Kennesaw  Moun- 
tain, Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  and  was  honorably  discharged  June 
21,  1865.  After  his  return  to  Illinois  he  served  as  deputy  circuit 
clerk,  removed  to  Oregon,  where  he  spent  some  years  and  was 
postmaster  at  Hood  River.  Returning  again  to  Illinois,  he  is  now 
a  railway  postal  clerk,  and  resides  at  No.  333  South  Clay  avenue, 
Jacksonville,  111. 

QUARTERMASTER  SERGEANT  JAMES  T.  PIERCE  enlisted 
as  a  private  in  Company  B  from  Havana,  and  was  appointed  quar- 
termaster sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the  regiment.  He  served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  in  1863.  He  was  elected  commissary  of  the  regi- 
mental association  at  its  organization  in  1885.  He  was  a  printer, 
and  removed  to  Waverly,  Neb.,  where  he  died  on  June  7,  1897. 

QUARTERMASTER  SERGEANT  EDWIN  M.  DURHAM  was 
born  in  Greenville,  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  19, 
1844,  and  removed  to  Illinois  in  1859.  He  enlisted  as  a  private 
from  Bath,  in  Mason  county,  and  served  through  the  Kentucky 
campaign  in  Company  D.  He  was  promoted  to  be  quartermaster 
sergeant  in  1863,  served  in  that  capacity  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  first  settled  at 
Vickstmrg,  Miss.,  where  he  was  a  salesman,  but  removed  to  Mis- 
souri in  1869,  and  is  at  present  a  breeder  of  fine  poultry  at  La 
Plata,  Macon  county,  Missouri. 

COMMISSARY  SERGEANT  THOMAS  J.  AVERT  was  born  in 
Lexington,  Fayette  county,  Kentucky,  in  1836,  and  enlisted  from 
Bath,  in  Mason  county,  Illinois,  as  a  private  in  Company  D.  He 
was  appointed  commissary  sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the 


THE;  FIELD  AND  STAFF.  343 

regiment,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment. 

HOSPITAL  STEWARD  JAMBS  L.  HASTINGS  was  born  in 
DeKalb,  St.  Lawrence  county,  New  York,  in  1834,  removed  to  Illi- 
nois, and  enlisted  from  Mason  City.  He  was  chosen  sergeant  of 
Company  C  at  the  organization  of  the  company,  and  at  the  forma- 
tion of  the  regiment  he  was  appointed  hospital  steward,  serving 
in  that  capacity  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Mason  City  at  the  close  of  his 
service,  and  was  engaged  in  farming  for  many  years.  He  served 
as  postmaster  under  the  Harrison  administration,  but  soon  after 
the  close  of  his  term,  removed  to  Chicago,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  real  estate  and  insurance  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1899. 

PRINCIPAL  MUSICIAN  JOHN  HAZELRIGG  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  1828,  removed  to  Illinois,  was  married,  and  a  carpenter 
when  he  enlisted  from  Bath  as  a  private  in  Company  D.  At  the 
organization  of  the  regiment  he  was  appointed  principal  musician. 
He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  The  pension  office  reports  his  death,  but  without  giving 
date  or  place. 

PRINCIPAL  MUSICIAN  JAMES  B.  DURDY  was  born  in 
Hagerstown,  Washington  county,  Maryland,  in  1838,  removed  to 
Illinois,  was  single,  and  a  printer  when  he  enlisted  in  Company  K 
from  Bath.  He  was  promoted  principal  musician,  served  to  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  At  the 
peace  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  followed  his  trade  in  Havana, 
but  finally  died  an  inmate  of  the  Mason  county  poor  house. 

PRINCIPAL  MUSICIAN  ROBERT  L  DURDY  was  born  in 
Hagerstown,  Washington  county,  Maryland,  in  1827,  removed  to 
Illinois,  was  a  printer,  and  enlisted  from  Bath.  He  was  promoted 
principal  musician  from  Company  K,  but  his  health  failed  in  the 
Kentucky  campaign,  and  he  was  discharged  for  disability  at  New 
Market,  Ky.,  December  27,  1862.  He  returned  to  Illinois,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  in  Havana,  where  he  died  many  years  ago. 


344  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 


Company  A  was  enrolled  by  Matthew  Langston 
under  dates  running  from  July  18  to  August  15,  1862. 
A  majority  of  the  men  enlisted  from  Mason  county, 
although  Morgan,  Peoria  and  Tazewell  counties  were 
represented  in  its  ranks.  At  the  organization  of  the 
company  the  following  commissioned  officers  were 
elected :  Matthew  Langston,  captain ;  Thomas  R.  Rob- 
erts, first  lieutenant,  and  Dr.  John  W.  Neal,  second  lieu- 
tenant. 

Of  the  93  officers  and  men  composing  the  company 
1 8  were  hit  with  shot  or  shell,  10  of  whom  were  killed  or 
died  of  wounds.  Four  officers  resigned,  19  men  died  of 
disease,  25  were  discharged,  2  were  transferred,  and  I 
officer  and  31  enlisted  men  were  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment. 

It  is  due  to  the  company  to  say  that  it  maintained  a 
high  standard  of  discipline  throughout,  and  bore  its  full 
share  in  making  the  history  of  the  regiment  illustrious. 
The  following  is 

THE   COMPANY  ROSTER. 

CAPTAIN  MATHBW  LANGSTON  was  born  in  Rutherford 
county,  Tennessee,  in  1824,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when 
he  enlisted  from  Manito.  He  was  elected  captain  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  company,  and  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign, 
but  resigned  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  January  11,  1863.  He  returned 
home,  resumed  farming,  and  died  March  24,  1896.  His  widow, 
Mrs.  Susan  Langston,  resides  at  Forest  City,  111. 

CAPTAIN  THOMAS  R.  ROBERTS  was  born  in  Howard 
County,  Missouri,  in  1820,  and  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  war  with 
Mexico.  He  enlisted  from  Tazewell  county,  and  was  elected  first 
lieutenant  at  the  organization  of  the  company.  He  was  promoted 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  A.  345 

captain  January  11,  1863,  and  served  with  the  regiment  until  April 
15,  1864,  when  he  resigned  and  returned  home.  He  resumed  farm- 
ing, but  has  been  dead  for  a  number  of  years,  the  date  of  his  death 
being  unknown  to  the  writer.  His  widow,  Mrs.  Lucy  Roberts, 
resides  at  Manito,  111. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  DANIEL  WESTPALL  was  born  in 
Allegany  county,  New  York,  in  1828,  and  was  married  and  a 
farmer  when  he  enlisted  as  a  private  from  Manito.  He  was  pro- 
moted to  be  first  lieutenant  January  11,  1863,  and  resigned  his 
commission  and  returned  home  on  March  25  of  the  same  year.  Is 
reported  to  be  living  in  Iowa. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  DANIEL  HAVENS  was  born  near  Win- 
chester, Scott  county,  Illinois,  December  13,  1837,  and  enlisted  from 
Spring  Lake.  He  was  chosen  second  sergeant  at  the  organization 
of  the  company,  was  twice  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
Ky.,  and  was  promoted  to  be  second  lieutenant  January  11,  1863. 
On  the  25th  of  the  following  March  he  was  promoted  to  first  lieu- 
tenant, and  commanded  the  company  from  the  date  of  the  resig- 
nation of  Captain  Roberts  until  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek, 
Georgia,  where  he  was  captured  and  held  in  rebel  prisons  for  over 
seven  months.  When  exchanged  he  resumed  command  of  the  com- 
pany and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  is  a  promi- 
nent merchant  at  Manito,  in  Mason  county,  where  he  is  now  serv- 
ing his  second  term  as  postmaster. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT  JOHN  W.  NEAL  was  born  in  Warren 
county,  Kentucky,  in  1833,  and  was  a  practicing  physician  when 
he  enlisted  from  Manito.  He  was  elected  second  lieutenant  at  the 
organization  of  the  company,  and  served  through  the  Kentucky 
campaign.  Upon  the  arrival  of  the  regiment  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
he  tendered  his  resignation,  which  was  accepted  on  November  12, 
1862.  Of  his  subsequent  career  the  writer  has  been  unable  to  learn 
anything,  except  that  he  died  December  20,  1894. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  ALBERT  G.  BEEBE  was  born  in  Canan- 
daigua,  Ontario  county,  New  York,  and  enlisted  from  Manito,  in 
Mason  county,  Illinois.  He  was  chosen  first  sergeant  at  the  organ- 
ization of  the  company,  was  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862,  and  was  discharged  for  disability 
arising  from  his  wounds  on  February  11,  1863.  He  was  twenty- 
nine  years  of  age  when  he  enlisted,  and  now,  advanced  in  years,  is 

residing  at  Manito,  111. 
21 


346  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  JOHN  K.  MILNER  was  born  in  Highland 
county,  Ohio,  in  1837,  and  was  unmarried  and  a  clerk  when  he 
enlisted  from  Manito,  in  Mason  county.  At  the  organization  of 
the  company  he  was  chosen  third  sergeant  and  later  he  was  pro- 
moted to  first  sergeant.  He  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant 
on  March  25,  1863,  but  the  company  was  below  the  minimum  and 
he  was  never  mustered.  He  continued  as  first  sergeant,  partici- 
pating in  all  the  battles  in  which  the  regiment  had  a  part  until 
the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  where  he  received  a  gun 
shot  wound,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  and  died  a  few  days 
later  at  Macon,  Ga. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  JAMES  GASH  was  born  in  Carlisle,  Cum- 
berland county,  England,  in  1835,  was  married  and  a  farmer  when 
he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the 
organization  of  the  company,  promoted  to  first  sergeant,  served  to 
the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He 
is  supposed  to  have  died  at  Cairo,  111. 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  M.  LANDWITH  was  born  in  Tazewell 
county,  Illinois,  in  1835,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he 
enlisted  from  Spring  Lake.  He  was  chosen  fourth  sergeant  at  the 
organization  of  the  company,  served  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign, when  his  health  failed  and  he  was  discharged  for  disability 
March  23,  1863.  He  died  near  Forest  City,  111.,  where  his  widow, 
Susan  Landwith,  now  resides. 

SERGEANT  JOSIAH  STOUT  was  born  in  Lambertville,  Som- 
erset county,  New  Jersey,  July  8,  1836,  and  was  unmarried  and  a 
farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Spring  Lake.  He  was  chosen  fifth 
sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the  company,  participated  in  all 
the  campaigns  of  the  regiment  until  captured  at  the  battle  of 
Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia.  After  several  months  spent  in  various 
rebel  prisons  he  was  exchanged  and  returned  to  duty,  was  pro- 
moted color  bearer,  carried  the  flag  at  the  grand  review,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and 
now  resides  at  Centralia,  111. 

SERGEANT  NEWTON  KING  was  born  in  Somerville,  Somer- 
set county,  New  Jersey,  May  2,  1839,  and  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Illinois  in  1841.  He  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  and  was 
chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  company.  He  was  pro- 
moted to  be  sergeant  March  25,  1863,  and  participated  in  all  the 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  A.  347 

campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged.  He  was  captured 
at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  but  was 
included  in  the  exchange  of  September  20,  1864,  when  he  returned 
to  duty,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  A  farmer  before  the  war,  he  has  been  a  farmer  and 
merchant  since.  He  removed  to  Nebraska,  and  is  now  a  real 
estate  dealer  in  Lincoln. 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  McLAUGHLIN  was  born  in  New  York 
City,  January  11,  1842,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois 
in  1857.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  from  Mason  county,  and  was 
promoted  sergeant  in  September,  1863.  He  served  in  all  the  cam- 
paigns in  which  the  regiment  had  a  part,  and  was  captured  at  the 
battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  but  was  ex- 
changed and  returned  to  duty  some  two  months  later.  He  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment  and  returned  to  Mason  county,, 
where  he  located  on  a  farm  near  Manito,  where  he  still  resides. 
He  has  served  his  community  both  as  school  director  and  trustee^ 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  MALONEY  was  born  in  Loudoun 
county,  Virginia,  in  1832,  and  was  a  married  farmer  when  he  en- 
listed as  a  private  from  Manito,  111.  He  was  promoted  to  be  ser- 
geant and  served  through  the  war,  being  honorably  discharged 
May  22,  1865.  A  report  from  the  pension  office  states  that  he  died 
September  17,  1890.  His  widow,  Martha  A.  Maloney,  resides  at 
Manito,  111.  „ 

CORPORAL  BENJAMIN  WHITE  was  born  in  Westmoreland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1837,  and  was  unmarried  and  a  farmer 
when  he  enlisted  from  Spring  Lake,  111.  He  was  chosen  corporal 
at  the  organization  of  the  company,  and  served  until  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862.  His  remains  are  buried 
in  the  national  cemetery  at  Camp  Nelson,  Kentucky,  in  No.  251. 

CORPORAL  JOSEPH  F.  RODGERS  was  born  in  Scott  county, 
Illinois,  in  1841,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  as  a  private 
from  Spring  Lake.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of 
the  company,  was  present  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  but  his 
health  failed,  and  he  died  in  the  hospital  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky., 
November  13,  1862.  . 

CORPORAL  ALONZO  McCAIN  was  born  in  Peoria  county, 
Illinois,  in  1841,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Spring 
Lake.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  com- 


348  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

pany,  and  served  with  the  company  until  captured  at  the  battle  of 
Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  was  held  in  various 
rebel  prisons  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged July  22,  1865.  He  died  near  Havana,  111.,  June  24,  1890. 

CORPORAL  PLEASANT  S.  TRENT  was  born  in  Tennessee  in 
1819,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason 
county.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany, served  through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  command 
was  engaged,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  re- 
turned to  Mason  county,  and  died  near  Havana,  February  15,  1892. 

CORPORAL  GEORGE  W.  SMITH  was  born  in  Scott  county, 
Illinois,  in  1836,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted 
from  Mason  county.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization 
of  the  company,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  but  was  absent 
(sick)  at  the  muster  out  of  the  regiment. 

CORPORAL  GEORGE  M.  WELCH  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1837,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when 
he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the 
organization  of  the  company,  served  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign, and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  26,  1862.  His  re- 
mains are  buried  at  No.  6156  in  the  national  cemetery  near  that 
city. 

CORPORAL  LEVI  S.  ANNO  was  born  in  Petersburg,  Menard 
county,  Illinois,  January  I,  1837,  and  was  married  and  a  mechanic 
when  he  enlisted  as  a  private  from  Mason  county.  He  was  pro- 
moted to  be  corporal,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  is  a  wagonmaker,  and  has  served 
as  school  director.  He  had  four  brothers  in  the  Union  army,  one 
of  whom  was  a  member  of  the  Eighty-fifth,  and  was  mortally 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia.  Levi  S.  re- 
moved to  Texas  in  1878,  and  now  resides  at  Kingston,  in  Hunt 
county. 

CORPORAL  CALVIN  W.  BOON  was  born  in  Union  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1841,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he 
enlisted  as  a  private  from  Tazewell  county.  He  was  promoted 
corporal  and  served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  at 
the  assault  on  Kennesaw  mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  He 
was  removed  to  the  hospital  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  where  he  died 
July  14,  1864.  His  remains  are  buried  in  No.  11,809  in  the  national 
cemetery  on  Orchard  Knob  near  Chattanooga. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  A.  349 

CORPORAL  WILSON  CLINE,  aged  eighteen,  farmer,  born  in 
Morgan  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  his  native  county. 
Served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  for  disability,  August  19,  1863.  He  returned  to 
Illinois,  and  is  said  to  be  farming  near  Waverly,  in  Morgan 
county. 

MUSICIAN  GEORGE  W.  S.  BOBBITT  was  born  in  Mason  coun- 
ty in  1843,  and  was  a  musician  when  he  enlisted  from  his  native 
county.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  He  is  supposed  to  be  living  at  Geneva,  Neb. 

MUSICIAN  DAVID  P.  BLACK  was  born  in  Blair  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, March  6,  1842,  and  with  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois 
in  1857.  He  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  served  to  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Returning  to 
Mason  county  he  engaged  in  farming,  has  served  as  school  direc- 
tor, and  was  treasurer  of  the  school  board  for  ten  years.  He  now 
resides  at  Manito,  111.,  where  he  has  served  as  trustee  and  presi- 
dent of  the  town  board. 

WAGONER  JOEL  C.  SUMMERS  was  born  in  Union  county, 
Illinois,  in  1826,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted 
from  Mason  county.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment,  but  no  one  seems  to  know  about 
his  subsequent  career. 

JOHN  F.  ANNO  was  born  in  Chillicothe,  Ross  county,  Ohio,  in 
1830,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason 
county.  He  served  in  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment 
participated,  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Geor- 
gia, July  19,  1864,  in  the  right  arm,  side  and  back,  and  died  of 
wounds  July  25,  1864. 

JAMES  P.  ARNETT  was  born  in  Menard  county,  Illinois,  in 
1841,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He 
served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  February  17,  1863.  His  remains  are  buried  in  No.  50  in  the 
national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

FRANCIS  M.  A  LYE  A  was  born  in  Porter  county,  Indiana,  in 
1839,  and  was  a  married  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason 
county,  Illinois.  He  served  with  his  company  in  all  the  campaigns 
in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  He  removed  to  Oklahoma  in  1889,  and  engaged  in 


350  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

farming  until  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Kingfisher,  February 
26,  1900. 

JOHN  W.  ALYEA  was  born  in  Porter  county,  Indiana,  April 
15,  1842,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1851,  and  was 
a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Spring  Lake.  He  served  through 
the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  while  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  was  de- 
tailed as  gunner  in  Fort  Negley  some  three  months.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  creek  and 
Jonesiboro,  and  was  a  mounted  forager  on  the  march  to  the  sea 
and  through  the  Carolinas.  He  was  captured  in  North  Carolina, 
and  held  in  Salsbury,  Danville  and  Libby  prisons  until  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  was  honorably  discharged  June  17,  1865.  He  re- 
moved to  Oklahoma  in  1889  ,where  he  is  engaged  in  farming,  his 
address  being  Kingfisher,  Oklahoma. 

JOHN  M.  ALBIN  was  born  in  Carroll  county,  Indiana,  in  1839, 
and  was  a  married  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Spring  Lake. 
He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment. 

REUBEN  W.  BARTRAM  was  born  in  Jersey  county,  Illinois, 
in  1843,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Spring  Lake.  He 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  but  was  absent  (sick)  at  muster  out 
of  the  regiment.  He  was  honorably  discharged  ,and  now  resides 
at  Manito,  Mason  county,  Illinois. 

JOHN  A.  BOON  was  born  in  New  Berlin,  Union  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, November  17,  1839,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois  in  1849.  He  was  a  married  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  county,  served  with  his  company  through  all  the  cam- 
paigns in  which  the  regiment  had  a  part,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to  Nebraska  in  1872,  and  was 
residing  at  Utica,  in  Seward  county,  where  he  died  on  November 
24,  1899,  and  was  buried  by  his  comrades  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic. 

JAMES  M.  BRADBURN  was  born  in  Perryville,  Vermillion 
county,  Indiana,  February  18,  1842,  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois  in  1844,  and  enlisted  from  Tazewell  county.  He  served  to 
the  close  of  the  war,  for  a  year  or  more  being  mounted  as  a  scout 
at  brigade  headquarters,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
He  removed  to  Missouri  in  1872,  where  he  has  served  as  school 
director,  and  is  now  residing  on  a  farm  near  Metz,  in  Vernon 
county,  Missouri. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  A.  351 

JOHN  W.  BRADBURN  was  born  in  Vermillion  county,  Indi- 
ana, in  1836,  and  was  an  unmarried  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Tazewell  county.  His  health  failed  while  in  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign, and  he  died  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  November  1,  1862. 

JAMES  M.  BRADBURN,  JR.,  was  born  in  Vermillion  county, 
Indiana,  in  1844,  and  enlisted  from  Tazewell  county,  Illinois, 
served  to  the'close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. He  was  wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain, 
Georgia,  but  soon  returned  to  his  company.  He  settled  on  a  farm 
near  Perryville,  Ind.,  where  he  died  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war. 

JACOB  BORTZFIELD  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana, 
December  9,  1839,  and  enlisted  from  Tazewell  county,  Illinois.  He 
served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  Since  the  war  he  has  served  as  postmaster 
twelve  years,  justice  of  the  peace  thirteen  years,  and  as  constable 
eight  years.  He  is  now  a  grain  dealer  and  resides  in  Parkland, 
Tazewell  county,  Illinois. 

JOHN  BORTZFIELD,  JR.,  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indi- 
ana, in  1842,  and  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  had  been  a 
farmer,  served  through  all  the  campaigns  to  Resaca,  Ga.,  where  he 
was  slightly  wounded.  At  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19, 
1864,  he  was  wounded  in  the  right  leg  and  was  discharged  for 
wounds,  February  7,  1865. 

WILLIAM  BORTZFIELD  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana, 
in  1838,  and  was  a  married  farmer  when  he  dnlisted  from  Taze- 
well county.  He  served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  July  19,  1864.  His  left  leg  was 
amputated,  and  he  was  shot  in  the  left  shoulder.  He  died  in  the 
hospital  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  August  14,  1864,  and  was  buried 
in  grave  No.  2045  in  the  national  cemetery  on  Orchard  Knob. 

GIBSON  BASS  was  born  in  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  in  1832, 
and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  his  native 
county.  He  was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  Octo- 
ber 8,  1862,  recovered  and  returned  to  duty  with  his  company,  but 
died  in  the  hospital  July  3,  1863.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No. 
3417  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

JOHN  W.  BOOTH  was  born  in  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  in 
1844,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Tazewell  county.  He  served 
with  his  company  until  his  health  failed  in  the  Chattanooga  cam- 


352  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

paign,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  where  he  died  November 
21,  1863.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  6398  in  the  national  cem- 
etery at  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

WILLIAM  D.  BLIZZARD  was  born  in  Sangamon  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1844,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Tazewell  county.  He 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. He  is  supposed  to  be  living  at  Topeka,  in  Mason  county, 
Illinois. 

HEZEKIAH  BARNES  was  born  in  Mason  county,  Illinois,  in 
1844,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  his  native  county.  He  served 
to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

JOHN  F.  COX  was  born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  in  1830,  and 
was  unmarried  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county. 
He  was  discharged  for  disability  October  23,  1862. 

JOHN  COX  was  born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  and  was  mar- 
ried and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Manito,  in  Mason  county. 
He  was  discharged  for  disability  at  the  age  of  thirty-four  years, 
October  23,  1862.  His  widow,  Mary  E.  Cox,  is  proprietor  of  the 
Cottage  House,  Manito,  111. 

ISAAC  COGDALL  was  born  in  Menard  county,  Illinois,  in  1844, 
and  enlisted  from  Manito,  in  Mason  county,  as  a  farmer.  He 
served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  He  is  supposed  to  be  living  at  Effingham, 
Effingham  county,  Illinois. 

ELI  M.  COGDALL  was  born  in  Petersburg,  Menard  county,  Illi- 
nois, June  10,  1836,  and  was  a  married  mechanic  when  he  enlisted 
from  Manito,  in  Mason  county.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky 
and  Murfreesboro  campaigns,  and  was  discharged  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  for  disability  March  8,  1863.  He  is  a  carpenter  and  builder 
and  resides  at  Manito,  111. 

EDMUND  CRATTY  was  born  in  Trenton,  N.  J.,  in  1832,  and 
was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Manito,  in  Mason 
county.  His  health  failed  in  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  he  was 
left  in  the  hospital  at  Danville.  He  is  erroneously  marked  absent 
(sick)  at  the  muster  out  of  the  regiment,  when  in  fact  he  died 
December  26,  1862,  and  his  remains  were  buried  at  No.  193  in  the 
national  cemetery  at  Danville,  Ky. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  A.  353 

ANDREW  CONLEY  was  born  in  Indiana  in  1841,  removed  to 
Illinois  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Tazewell  county.  He  served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  in  the  hospital  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  February  12,  1863.  He  was  buried  in  the  national 
cemetery  at  No.  6671. 

WILLIAM  P.  CHARLTON  was  born  in  Pike  county,  Illinois, 
in  1841,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Tazewell  county. 
He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment. 

PHILLIP  CLINE  was  'born  in  Exeter,  Scott  county,  Illinois, 
January  3,  1839,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Morgan  county. 
He  participated  in  all  the  campaigns  and  battles  in  which  the  regi- 
ment was  engaged,  was  a  mounted  scout  at  brigade  headquarters 
part  of  the  term  of  service,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. He  is  farming  near  Harrisonville,  Cass  county,  Missouri, 
having  removed  to  that  state  in  1886. 

JOHN  R.  DANIELS  was  born  in  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  in 
1841,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  his  native  county. 
He  served  with  his  company  until  his  health  failed,  and  he  was 
transferred  to  the  invalid  corps  on  February  15,  1864. 

JOHN  FURGUSON  was  born  in  Menard  county,  Illinois,  in 
1841,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Manito,  in  Mason 
county.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois,  and  is  reported  to 
have  died  near  Forest  City,  where  his  widow  now  resides. 

ALEXANDER  FURGUSON  was  born  in  Menard  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1839,  and  was  a  married  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  county.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  but  was  absent 
(sick)  when  the  regiment  was  mustered  out.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  from  the  hospital  at  New  Albany,  Ind.,  but  the  date  is 
not  known.  A  letter  has  been  returned  to  the  writer  from  his  last 
known  address,  Neosho  Falls,  Kan.,  unclaimed. 

FRANKLIN  GILLMORE  was  born  in  Menard  county,  Illinois, 
in  1841,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county. 
His  health  soon  failed,  and  he  died  in  the  hospital  at  Harrods- 
burg,  Ky.,  November  8,  1862.  His  remains  are  interred  in  the 
national  cemetery  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky.,  in  grave  No.  361. 

JAMES  F.  GILLMORE  was  born  in  Mason  county,  Illinois,  in 
1840,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  his  na- 


354  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

tive  county.  He  served  with  his  company  through  the  Kentucky 
campaign,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  January  30,  1863,  at 
Nashville,  Tenn. 

DAVID  A.  GORDON  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, removed  to  Illinois,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he 
enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  was  left  at  the  hospital  in  Dan- 
ville, Ky.,  a  few  days  after  the  battle  of  Perryville,  where  he  died 
October  27,  1862,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight  years.  His  remains  are 
buried  at  No.  91  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Danville,  Ky. 

JOHN  S.  GARDNER  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Vermont,  in 
1828,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason 
county.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  26,  1863.  Is  buried  at  No.  1285  in  the  na- 
tional cemetery  at  Nashville. 

GEORGE  HOWELL  was  born  in  Union  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1842,  and  was  a  married  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Taze- 
well  county,  Illinois.  He  served  with  his  company  through  the 
Kentucky  campaign,  but  fell  sick  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
April  5,  1863,  and  is  buried  at  No.  7262  in  the  hallowed  ground  of 
the  national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

HENRY  HOWELL,  aged  thirty-five,  was  born  in  Union  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  married  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Tazewell  county,  Illinois.  He  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  1862,  but 
the  exact  date  is  unknown.  He  is  buried  in  No.  1662  in  the  na- 
tional cemetery  at  Cave  Hill. 

WILLIAM  C.  HARRISON  was  born  in  Montreal,  Lower  Can- 
ada, in  1836.  He  enlisted  from  Peoria,  111.,  as  a  farmer,  and  served 
with  the  company  until  November  12,  1863,  when  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  invalid  corps.  When  last  heard  from  he  was  resid- 
ing at  Pekin,  111. 

SAMUEL  JACKSON  was  born  in  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  In 
1841,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Manito.  He  served 
to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
He  returned  to  Illinois  and  died  at  Havana,  June  20,  1895. 

BENJAMIN  E.  JORDAN  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1841,  and  was 
a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Tazewell  county.  He  served  with 
his  company  until  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  July  19,  1864, 
when  he  was  captured  and  held  by  the  enemy  until  the  close  of 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  A.  355 

the  war.    He  was  honorably  discharged  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio, 
April  28,  1865. 

SAMUEL  JONES  was  bora  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, March  5,  1839,  and  was  a  married  farmer  when  he  enlisted 
from  Mason  county.  He  served  with  his  company  throughout  the 
war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to 
Illinois  and  resumed  farming  near  Bryant  station,  in  Fulton 
county,  but  a  year  or  so  later  he  removed  to  Mason  county,  where 
he  has  since  been  engaged  as  a  painter  and  farmer.  He  resides  at 
Mason  City. 

DANIEL  KOOZER  was  born  in  Peoria,  111.,  in  1841,  and  was  a 
farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Tazewell  county.  He  served  with, 
his  company  until  mounted  as  a  scout  at  brigade  headquarters, 
and  was  wounded  while  scouting  near  the  close  of  the  campaign  in 
the  Carolinas.  He  died  from  the  effects  of  this  wound  at  Golds- 
boro,  N.  C.,  March  27,  1S65,  his  remains  being  buried  at  No.  106 
in  the  national  cemetery  at  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

DAVID  KRATZER  was  born  in  Union  county,  Pennsylvania, 
1839,  and  was  an  unmarried  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Taze- 
well county,  Illinois.  He  served  with  his  company  until  wounded 
in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  and 
died  from  the  effects  of  wounds  at  Big  Shanty,  Ga.,  June  29,  1864. 

WILLIAM  T.  LANGSTON  was  born  near  Winchester,  Scott 
county,  Illinois,  January  10,  1844,  and  enlisted  from  Manito,  in 
Mason  county.  He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the 
war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to 
Kansas  in  1877,  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Dickinson  county  until 
1890,  when  he  removed  to  Abilene,  where  he  is  engaged  in  shoe- 
making. 

ARELIUS  LAYTON  was  born  in  Scott  county,  Illinois,  in  1831, 
and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Tazewell 
county.  He  served  with  his  company  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign, but  fell  sick  at  Nashville  and  died  December  1,  1862.  His 
remains  are  buried  in  grave  No.  6457  in  the  national  cemetery  at 
Nashville,  Tenn. 

HIRAM  MASON  was  born  in  McLean  county,  Illinois,  in  1841, 
and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Tazewell  county.  His  health  failed 
in  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  he  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  Decem- 
ber 23,  1862.  Is  buried  at  No.  1222  in  the  national  cemetery  at 
Cave  Hill,  near  Louisville,  Ky. 


356  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

JOSEPH  A.  MAYES  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Kentucky,  in 
1834,  was  married  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Pekin,  111.  He 
served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  but  was  absent 
(sick  in  the  hospital  at  Alexandria,  Va.)  when  the  regiment  was 
mustered  out.  He  was  honorably  discharged  later,  and  now  re- 
sides at  Naron,  Pratt  county,  Kansas. 

LEMUEL  Y.  NASH  was  born  in  Slaterville,  Tompkins  county, 
New  York,  in  1833,  and  was  unmarried  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  county,  Illinois,  as  a  wagonmaker.  He  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862,  and  his  remains  are  bur- 
ied in  grave  No.  253  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky. 

JACOB  PARKS  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Kentucky,  in 
1837,  and  was  single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Tazewell 
county,  Illinois.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment,  but  the  writer  has  been  unable  to 
learn  anything  about  his  subsequent  career. 

IDEA  F.  PETERS  was  born  in  Germany  in  1841,  emigrated  to 
America  and  enlisted  as  a  single  farmer  from  Mason  county,  Illi- 
nois. He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  but  fell  sick  at 
Nashville,  and  died  on  May  2,  1863.  His  remains  are  buried  in  No. 
957  in  the  national  cemetery  near  Nashville,  Tenn. 

ROBERT  PRINGLE  was  born  in  Newcastle,  on  the  River 
Tyne,  England,  in  1845.  In  1849  he  emigrated  with  his  parents 
and  settled  in  Illinois,  enlisting  from  Mason  county.  He  served 
with  his  company  in  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  command 
was  engaged,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  re- 
moved to  Nebraska  in  1874,  and  served  as  school  director  and  as- 
sessor in  Box  Butte  county.  He  also  served  as  first  sergeant  in 
the  National  Guard  of  Nebraska  for  eight  years.  He  is  a  plasterer 
and  resides  since  1894  at  Hot  Springs,  S.  D. 

BEAUROP  PEMBERTON,  aged  nineteen,  born  in  Menard 
county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Spring  Lake.  His  health  failed 
in  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  he  was  lefc  in  the  hospital  at 
Bowling  Green,  from  which  he  was  discharged  January  10,  1863. 

WILLIAM  J.  PEMBERTON  was  born  in  Menard  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1841,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Tazewell  county.  He 
was  discharged  for  disability  from  the  hospital  at  Bowling  Green, 
Ky.,  January  24,  1863. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  A.  357 

LEWIS  POSTER  was  born  in  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  in  1839, 
and  enlisted  as  an  unmarried  farmer  from  Manito.  He  was  dis- 
charged for  disability  from  the  hospital  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky., 
January  19,  1863. 

JOHN  W.  PRICE  was  born  in  Ross  county,  Ohio,  in  1844,  and 
was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  Illinois.  He 
served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  is  supposed  to  be  living  at  Wy- 
oming, Stark  county,  Illinois. 

CHARLES  W.  REAGAN  was  born  in  Vigo  county,  Indiana,  in 
1841,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Manito,  111.  He  served  with 
his  company  until  killed  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Geor- 
gia, July  19,  1864.  His  remains  are  buried  in  No.  1909  in  the  hal- 
lowed ground  of  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

HIRAM  D.  REAGAN  was  born  in  Nelson  county,  Kentucky,  in 
1819,  was  married  and  a  wagonmaker  when  he  enlisted  from  Man- 
ito, 111.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged from  the  hospital  at  Quincy,  111.,  June  22,  1865.  He  re- 
sides at  Mason  City,  111. 

ROSS  SHAW  was  born  in  Somerset  county,  New  Jersey,  Sep- 
tember 13,  1838,  and  removed  to  Illinois  in  1858.  He  enlisted  from 
Tazewell  county  as  a  farmer,  and  served  through  the  Kentucky 
campaign  with  his  company,  but  was  afterward  transferred  to 
the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-fifth  company  of  the  Veteran  Reserve 
corps,  and  served  in  that  organization  to  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  honorably  discharged  from  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  had 
been  stationed  for  a  year  or  more.  He  removed  to  Minnesota  in 
1872  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  has  served  his  fellow-citizens 
as  clerk  of  the  school  board,  justice  of  the  peace  and  county  treas- 
urer. His  address  is  Westport,  Pope  county,  Minnesota. 

PHILLIP  SANIT  was  born  in  Germany  in  1844,  emigrated  to 
America  and  enlisted  from  Tazewell  county,  Illinois.  He  served 
with  his  company  until  killed  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek, 
Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  His  remains  are  buried  in  grave  No.  1908 
in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

HENRY  R.  STREETER  was  born  in  Iras-burg,  Orleans  county, 
Vermont,  in  1836,  and  removed  to  Pekin,  111.,  where  he  enlisted  as 
a  married  farmer.  He  served  with  his  company  until  wounded  in 
the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  His 


358  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

wound  caused  the  amputation  of  a  leg,  and  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged from  the  hospital  at  New  Albany,  Ind.,  at  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  died  December  3, 1875. 

WILLIAM  S.  SMICK  was  born  in  Menard  county,  Illinois,  in 
1831,  and  was  unmarried  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Tazewell  county.  He  served  with  the  company  until  near  the 
close  of  the  war,  but  was  absent  (sick)  at  the  muster  out  of  the 
regiment. 

DALLAS  A.  TRENT  was  born  in  Springfield,  111.,  in  1844,  and 
enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Mason  county.  He  served  with  his 
company  until  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia, 
July  19,  1864.  He  was  exchanged,  returned  to  duty,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  resides  at  Manito,  Mason  county, 
Illinois. 

WILLIAM  M.  THOMPSON  was  born  in  Overton  county,  Ten- 
nessee, February  4,  1844,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1861,  and  enlisted 
as  a  farmer  from  Morgan  county.  He  was  slightly  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  but  recovered  and  served  with  the 
company  until  taken  sick  at  Mitchellville,  Tenn.,  and  was  sent  to 
the  hospital  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.  He  was  discharged  for  disa- 
bility on  January  10,  1863,  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Illinois. 
He  removed  to  Norman,  Cleveland  county,  Oklahoma,  in  October, 
1898,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  farming  and  railroading. 

JOHN  B.  TALBOT  was  born  in  Shelby  county,  Kentucky,  in 
1819,  and  was  married  and  a  merchant  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  county,  Illinois.  He  served  with  the  company  to  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  is  re- 
ported to  have  died  on  July  29,  1898. 

THOMAS  TRENT  was  born  in  Menard  county,  Illinois,  in  1833, 
and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Tazewell 
county.  He  served  with  the  company  until  the  war  closed,  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois  and 
now  resides  in  Havana. 

JOHN  P.  VANDEUSEN  was  born  in  Columbia  county,  New 
York,  in  1844,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Tazewell  county,  Illi- 
nois. He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  but  was  taken 
sick  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  where  he 
died  March  3,  1863.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  673  in  the  na- 
tional cemetery  near  Nashville,  Tenn. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  A.  359 

DAVID  WOOD  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1841,  emigrated  to  Illi- 
nois, and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Mason  county.  He  served 
with  the  company  until  captured  in  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek, 
Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  was  exchanged  and  returned  to  duty 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

JOHN  A.  WOOD,  aged  twenty-three  years,  enlisted  as  an  un- 
married farmer  from  Tazewell  county,  but  the  place  of  his  birth 
is  not  given.  He  served  with  the  company  through  the  Kentucky 
campaign,  but  was  discharged  for  disability  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
February  10,  1863.  He  is  supposed  to  be  living  in  Blackhawk 
county,  Iowa. 

WESLEY  J.  WHITTAKER  was  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio, 
in  1844,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Tazewell  county,  Illinois. 
He  served  with  his  company  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and 
died  in  the  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  20,  1862.  His 
remains  are  buried  at  No.  5097  in  the  national  cemetery  near  that 
city. 

MARTIN  L.  WHITE  was  born  at  Sellins  Grove,  Union  county, 
Tennessee,  in  1842,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Tazewell  county, 
Illinois.  He  served  with  the  company  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign, and  died  in  the  hospital  in  the  capital  of  his  native  state, 
December  13,  1862.  Is  buried  in  grave  No.  6890  in  the  national 
cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

WILLIAM  McLAFFLIN  deserted  at  Peoria,  111. 


360  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII. 


Company  B  was  enrolled  at  Havana  by  James  R. 
Griffith  between  July  18  and  August  22,  1862.  This 
company  was  credited  to  Mason,  but  in  fact  very  many 
of  the  men  enlisted  from  Fulton  county.  Unfortu- 
nately the  muster-in  roll  of  this  company  is  defective, 
seldom  if  ever  giving  the  residence  at  enlistment,  and 
not  often  the  occupation  or  birth-place  of  the  men. 

At  the  organization  of  the  company  the  following 
commissioned  officers  were  elected :  James  R.  Griffith, 
captain;  Charles  W.  Pierce,  first  lieutenant,  and  John  A. 
Mallory.  second  lieutenant. 

The  company  was  mustered  in  with  96  officers  and 
men,  of  whom  1 1  were  killed  in  battle  or  died  of  wounds 
received  in  action,  and  19  were  wounded  who  lived  to  be 
discharged  or  mustered  out,  12  died  of  disease,  22  were 
discharged,  6  were  transferred,  and  but  33  were  present 
at  the  final  muster  out. 

During  the  three  years'  service  Company  B  was 
never  found  wanting,  and  now  at  the  end  of  thirty-five 
years  its  survivors  look  with  pride  upon  its  record. 
Three  of  its  members  lost  an  arm  and  seven  were  killed 
within  thirty  minutes  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek. 
The  following  is 

THE   COMPANY   ROSTER. 

CAPTAIN  JAMES  R.  GRIFFITH  (promoted  lieutenant  col- 
onel, see  field  and  staff). 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  CHARLES  W.  PIERCE  was  born  in 
Benton,  Yates  county,  New  York,  October  7,  1823,  removed  to 
Illinois  in  1855,  and  was  a  mechanic  when  he  enlisted  from  Ha- 
vana. He  was  elected  first  lieutenant  at  the  organization  of  the 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  B.  361 

company,  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign  and  until  No- 
vember 2,  1863,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve 
corps,  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perry ville,  Ky,,  Oc- 
tober 8,  1862.  He  acted  as  sub-commissioner  of  refugees,  freed- 
men,  and  abandoned  lands  for  a  district  composed  of  fifteen  coun- 
ties in  western  Alabama,  under  General  Swain,  was  promoted 
major,  and  was  mustered  out  with  that  rank  at  Demopolis,  Ala., 
January  1,  1868.  He  was  assessor  of  internal  revenue  for  the  First 
district  of  Alabama  and  a  member  of  the  fortieth  congress  from 
the  Fourth  district  of  that  state.  He  removed  to  Nebraska  in 
1872,  was  a  member  of  the  constitutional  convention  in  1875,  was 
twice  a  member  of  the  state  senate,  and  served  a  term  as  register 
of  the  United  States  land  office.  He  is  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising,  and  resides  at  Waverly,  Lancaster  county,  Nebraska. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  ALBERT  D.  CADWALLADER  waa 
born  in  Harveysburgh,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  July  25,  1846,  re- 
moved with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1855,  and  was  attending 
school  when  he  enlisted  from  Havana,  111.  He  was  chosen  cor- 
poral at  the  organization  of  the  company,  promoted  first  sergeant 
in  1863  and  to  first  lieutenant  November  2,  1863.  He  was  slightly 
wounded  at  Buzzard  Roost,  Ga.,  February  25,  1864,  and  received  a 
wound  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek  July  19,  1864,  which 
caused  the  loss  of  his  right  arm  and  disabled  him  for  further  ser- 
vice. He  was  honorably  discharged  April  4,  1865,  returned  home, 
studied  telegraphy  and  became  quite  an  expert  in  that  line,  was 
connected  with  the  Chicago  and  Alton  railroad  for  several  years, 
was  afterwards  postmaster  at  Lincoln,  111.,  where  he  now  resides, 
for  seventeen  years,  read  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1883, 
and  is  now  clerk  of  the  supreme  court,  central  grand  division  of 
Illinois,  with  headquarters  at  Springfield. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  JOHN  W.  PATTON  was  born  in  Ha- 
vana, Mason  county,  Illinois,  August  9,  1844,  and  was  attending 
school  when  he  enlisted  as  a  private  from  his  native  town.  He 
served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  was  promoted 
sergeant,  and  on  May  19,  1865,  to  be  first  lieutenant.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment,  and  returned  to  Havana,  111.,  where 
he  learned  and  worked  at  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  Between  the 
years  1872  and  1879  he  served  as  marshal  and  deputy  sheriff  of 
Mason  county,  removed  to  Colorado  in  1879.  Is  a  carpenter  and 

builder  and  now  resides  at  Canon  City,  Fremont  county,  Colorado. 
22 


362  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT  JOHN  A.  MALLORY  enlisted  as  a 
private  from  Havana  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  years,  and  was 
elected  second  lieutenant  at  the  organization  of  the  company.  He 
served  in  that  capacity  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  re- 
signed his  commission  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  January  24,  1863,  and 
returned  home.  He  died  November  25,  1893. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT  GEORGE  MYERS  enlisted  from  Ha- 
vana at  the  age  of  thirty-six  years,  and  was  chosen  sergeant  at  the 
organization  of  the  company.  He  was  promoted  second  lieutenant 
January  24,  1863,  and  served  with  his  company  until  January  24, 
1864,  when  he  resigned  and  returned  home.  When  last  heard 
from  he  was  living  in  Florida. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  WILLIAM  S.  ALLEN  (promoted  sergeant 
major,  see  field  and  staff). 

FIRST  SERGEANT  GEORGE  D.  PRIOR  enlisted  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six,  and  was  chosen  second  sergeant  at  the  organization 
of  the  company.  He  was  promoted  to  be  first  sergeant,  and  served 
•with  his  company  until  killed  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek, 
Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  1910  in  the 
national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  CHARLES  T.  KISLER  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  February  15,  1842,  and  removed  with 
his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1855.  He  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted 
as  a  private  from  Mason  county.  While  the  regiment  was  at 
Louisville,  Ky.,  he  was  detached  and  placed  in  charge  of  confis- 
cated property.  He  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach 
Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  and  was  promoted  to  be  first 
sergeant.  He  was  commissioned  captain  on  May  19,  1865,  but  the 
company  was  then  too  small  to  permit  his  muster,  and  he  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment  as  first  sergeant.  He  returned  to 
Mason  county,  where  he  is  engaged  in  farming,  and  now  resides  in 
Havana,  111. 

SERGEANT  JOHN  G.  AKERSON  enlisted  as  a  private  from 
Fulton  county  at  the  age  of  thirty-three,  and  was  chosen  sergeant 
at  the  organization  of  the  company.  He  served  with  his  com- 
pany through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  for  dis- 
ability at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  8,  1863.  He  returned  to 
Fulton  county,  and  now  resides  at  Lewistown,  111. 

SERGEANT  ISRAEL  J.  ALDEN  enlisted  as  a  private  at  the 
age  of  thirty-three  years,  and  was  honored  by  his  comrades  by 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  B.  363 

being  chosen  sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the  company.  But 
their  confidence  in  his  loyalty  was  misplaced,  and  he  appears  to 
have  made  a  business  of  "leaping  of  the  bounty."  He  deserted 
anil  enlisted  in  the  Eighth  Missouri,  deserted  and  joined  the  Six- 
tieth Illinois,  was  arrested  and  returned  to  Company  B,  and  finally 
deserted  again  May  13,  1865.  His  subsequent  career  is  unknown 
to  the  writer,  but  it  has  doubtless  been  downward,  if  he  ever  found 
lower  depths  for  his  peculiar  genius  to  explore. 

SERGEANT  JOHN  H.  CLEVELAND  enlisted  from  Mason 
county  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  years,  was  chosen  corporal  at  the 
organization  of  the  company,  and  was  promoted  sergeant.  He 
served  with  his  company  through  all  the  campaigns  and  battles  in 
which  the  regiment  was  engaged  until  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  As  a  result  of  this  wound 
his  right  arm  was  amputated,  and  he  was  confined  in  the  hospital 
to  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  absent  on  account  of  wounds 
when  the  regiment  was  mustered  out,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged from  the  hospital  soon  after.  A  piece  of  a  percussion  cap 
from  his  gun  struck  him  in  the  face  in  one  of  the  battles  he  was 
engaged  in,  making  what  was  thought  at  the  time  an  insignificant 
scratch.  But  that  slight  wound  never  healed,  and  now  he  is  sup- 
posed to  be  dying  at  his  home  in  Easton,  111.,  from  the  effects  of 
a  wound  from  the  poisonous  cap. 

SERGEANT  THORNTON  S.  PIERCE  was  twenty-two  years  of 
age  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county  as  a  private.  He  was 
promoted  sergeant  and  served  with  his  company  through  all  the 
campaigns  the  command  was  engaged  in  until  he  was  wounded  in 
the  wrist  and  right  arm  at  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain, 
Georgia.  He  died  from  the  shock  of  his  wounds  during  the  night 
of  June  27,  1864. 

SERGEANT  THOMAS  CLUNEY,  aged  nineteen  years,  enlisted 
as  a  private  and  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  was 
promoted  sergeant,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He 
returned  to  Fulton  county,  and  now  resides  at  Bernadotte,  111. 

CORPORAL  ISAAC  MANN,  aged  thirty  years,  enlisted  from 
Fulton  county,  and  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the 
company.  He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Fulton 


364  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

county  and  was  a  farmer  near  Sepo,  111.,  when  he  died  about  Sep- 
tember 1,  1900. 

CORPORAL  WARREN  TIPPBY,  aged  twenty-one,  enlisted 
from  Fulton  county,  and  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization 
of  the  company.  He  served  with  the  command  until  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  Is  buried  at 
No.  1913,  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta.,  Ga. 

CORPORAL  ABNER  EVELAND,  aged  forty-one,  enlisted  as  a 
farmer  from  Fulton  county,  and  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organ- 
ization of  the  company.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign, and  was  discharged  for  disability,  April  22,  1863.  He  re- 
turned to  Fulton  county  and  engaged  in  farming,  and  died  near 
Sepo,  111.,  in  about  1875. 

CORPORAL  JOSEPH  K.  BISHOP,  aged  thirty-three,  enlisted 
from  Mason  county,  and  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization 
of  the  company.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Mason  county,  and 
was  living  in  Havana  when  he  was  killed  by  lightning  November, 
1888. 

CORPORAL  ELLIS  BOWMAN,  aged  thirty-eight,  enlisted  as  a 
farmer  from  Fulton  county,  and  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organ- 
ization of  the  company.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign, and  was  discharged  for  disability,  February  8,  1863.  He 
returned  to  Illinois,  resumed  farming  and  died  near  Sepo,  in  Ful- 
ton county,  in  a"bout  1875. 

CORPORAL  THOMAS  C.  EATON  was  born  in  the  County  of 
Kent,  England,  September  29,  1838,  and  emigrated  with  his  par- 
ents to  Illinois  in  October,  1850.  He  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from 
Mason  county,  and  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the 
company.  He  drove  team  occasionally  on  the  Kentucky  campaign 
and  while  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  he  was  detailed  to  drive  the  bri- 
gade headquarters  team,  and  drove  the  team  through  all  the  cam- 
paigns the  command  was  engaged  in,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Mason  county  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  grain  dealing,  has  seven  children  and  thirteen  grand-chil- 
dren, owns  a  thousand  acres  of  land,  has  served  on  the  drainage 
commission,  and  has  long  been  the  treasurer  of  the  regimental 
association.  He  resides  in  Havana,  111. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  B.  365 

CORPORAL  LEWIS  BOARMASTER,  aged  forty-one,  enlisted 
as  a  private,  was  promoted  to  be  corporal  and  served  with  his 
company  until  killed  at  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  September 
1,  1864.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  3284  in  the  national  ceme- 
tery at  Marietta,  Ga. 

CORPORAL  JAMES  GREATHOUSE,  aged  thirty-three,  en- 
listed as  a  private  from  Mason  county,  and  served  through  all  the 
campaigns  in  which  his  company  was  engaged,  was  promoted  cor- 
poral, and  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illi- 
nois, and  now  resides  in  Bath,  Mason  county,  Illinois. 

CORPORAL  THOMAS  HUTTON,  aged  forty-three,  enlisted  as 
a  private:  was  promoted  to  corporal,  served  to  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to 
Illinois,  and  died  in  the  Mason  county  poor  house  in  1868. 

CORPORAL  JOHN  JOHNSTON,  aged  eighteen,  enlisted  as  a 
private,  was  promoted  corporal,  and  served  with  his  company 
until  killed  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19, 
1864.  His  remains  are  buried  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Mari- 
etta, Ga.,  at  No.  1911. 

CORPORAL  MASSENA  B.  NOTT  was  born  in  Morgan  county, 
Ohio,  July  19,  1839,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in 
1855.  He  enlisted  from  Fulton  county  as  a  private,  served  through 
the  Kentucky  campaign  with  his  company,  and  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  he  was  detailed  to  man  the  guns  in  Company  I,  Second  Illi- 
nois, Light  artillery,  serving  fourteen  months,  when  he  returned 
to  his  company.  He  was  promoted  corporal,  served  to  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned 
to  Fulton  county,  resumed  farming,  and  now  resides  at  Lewis- 
town,  111. 

CORPORAL  ALEX  C.  RATLIFF,  aged  twenty-three,  enlisted 
from  Fulton  county  as  a  private,  was  promoted  corporal  and 
served  with  the  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Fulton  county  and 
died  in  about  1880. 

CORPORAL  DAVID  SIGLEY,  son  of  Daniel  Sigley  and  Eliza 
Atkins,  was  born  in  Hanging  Rock,  Lawrence  county,  Ohio,  Janu- 
ary 13,  1S39,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Kentucky  in  1843. 
From  there  he  removed  to  Illinois  in  1851,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer 
from  Havana,  in  Mason  county.  He  was  promoted  corporal,  and 


366  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

served  through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  en- 
gaged until  disabled  by  wounds.  He  was  twice  slightly  wounded 
at  Kennesaw  Mountain,  and  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek, 
Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  he  was  severely  wounded  in  both  arms  and 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  One  wound  caused  the  amputa- 
tion of  his  right  arm  near  the  shoulder,  but  it  was  a  busy  time 
with  the  rebel  surgeons,  and  his  wounds  were  not  dressed  until 
they  arrived  at  Macon,  Ga.,  on  the  27th.  He  was  confined  in 
prison  at  Andersonville  and  Milan,  and  exchanged  at  Savannah, 
Ga.,  November  21,  1864.  He  was  honorably  discharged  from  the 
general  hospital  at  Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  August  2,  1865,  after  recov- 
ering from  a  second  amputation.  He  resides  at  Havana,  111. 

CORPORAL  ISAAC  G.  BASH,  aged  twenty-one,  enlisted  as  a 
private,  was  promoted  corporal  and  transferred  to  the  invalid 
corps.  This  transfer  must  have  been  made  after  he  served  through 
the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  probably  while  the  regiment  was  on 
garrison  duty  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  But  the  writer  has  been  unable 
to  find  ttie  date  of  transfer  or  anytt'ng  relating  to  his  subsequent 
career. 

MUSICIAN  ALONZO  F.  KREBAUM  was  born  in  Lewis  town, 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  May  15,  1844,  enlisted  from  that  county, 
and  was  appointed  musician  at  the  organization  of  the  company. 
He  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Ga.,  Sep- 
tember 20,  1863,  but  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  his  native  county  at 
the  return  of  peace,  is  an  engineer,  and  resides  at  Duncan's  Mills, 
Fulton  county,  Illinois. 

MUSICIAN  JASPER  N.  WILCOX,  aged  eighteen,  was  ap- 
pointed musician  at  the  organization  of  the  company,  and  served 
with  his  company  until  the  command  reached  Bowling  Green,  Ky., 
where  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital.  He  died  December  18,  1862,  and 
his  remains  are  buried  at  No.  10858  in  the  national  cemetery  at 
Nashville,  Tenn. 

WAGONER  WILLIAM  R.  STULL,  aged  forty-four  years  at 
enlistment,  and  was  appointed  wagoner  at  the  organization  of  the 
company.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  but  was  absent  (sick) 
at  the  muster  out  of  the  regiment.  He  was  honorably  discharged 
from  the  hospital  at  New  Albany,  Ind.,  June  10,  1865.  He  is  re- 
ported to  have  died  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  in  the  southern 
part  of  Illinois. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  B.  367 

ABRAM  W.  ACKERSON,  aged  thirty,  enlisted  from  Fulton 
county,  and  deserted  January  15,  1863. 

JOHN  B.  ACKERSON,  aged  thirty-one,  enlisted  from  Fulton 
county,  and  deserted  September  22,  1862. 

JOHN  W.  BRECKENRIDGE  was  born  in  the  province  of  Can- 
ada West,  July  18,  1837,  emigrated  to  Lockport,  Will  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  the  spring  of  1850,  and  settled  in  Fulton  county  in  1857. 
He  enlisted  from  Fulton  county  and  served  through  the  Kentucky 
and  Murfreesborough  campaigns  and  to  Franklin,  Tenn.  In  the 
winter  of  1862-3  he  was  taken  prisoner  and  held  for  a  short  time, 
being  stripped  of  nearly  all  of  his  clothing,  pockets  rifled,  and 
nearly  every  thing  taken  except  a  small  pocket  testament.  In  the 
summer  of  1863  he  was  transferred  to  Company  C,  Eighth  Veteran 
reserve  corps,  and  was  discharged  therefrom  October  2,  1863.  Was 
a  farmer  before  and  since  the  war,  and  has  held  the  following 
offices  in  Waterford  township:  School  director  and  township  clerk 
ten  years,  supervisor  (member  of  county  board)  four  years.  His 
postoffice  address  is  Lewistown,  111. 

JESSE  BAILOR  was  born  in  Columtnana  county,  Ohio,  Decem- 
ber 26,  1829,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1845.  He 
enlisted  July  29,  1862,  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  captured 
at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  but  was 
exchanged  and  returned  to  duty  about  two  months  later.  After 
the  close  of  the  war  he  removed  to  Iowa,  and  now  resides  at  Bard, 
in  Louisa  county. 

SIMON  BURKHOLDER  was  born  in  Lewistown,  Mifflin  county, 
Pennsylvania,  August  18,  1835,  and  removed  to  Illinois  in  1858.  He 
enlisted  from  Fulton  county,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  slightly  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  but 
soon  recovered  and  returned  to  duty.  He  enlisted  in  the  Veteran 
Reserve  corps  in  1867,  and  served  three  years.  He  then  enlisted 
in  the  First  Regular  infantry,  and  served  until  the  army  was  re- 
duced in  1873,  when  he  resumed  his  trade  at  Smithfield,  in  Fulton 
county,  where  he  now  resides. 

MARTIN  BEEKMAN,  aged  twenty-two,  served  through  the 
Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  transferred  to  the  invalid  corps. 
Date  not  found.  He  returned  to  Fulton  county  at  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  now  resides  at  Enion,  111. 


368  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

THOMAS  M.  BELL,  aged  twenty-three,  enlisted  August  4,  1862, 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862. 
Some  time  after  returning  to  duty,  probably  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
he  was  transferred  to  the  marine  corps.  He  is  supposed  to  have 
died,  but  whether  in  the  service  or  since,  the  writer  has  been 
unable  to  learn. 

WILLIAM  H.  BECHSTEAD,  aged  eighteen,  deserted  December 
25,  1862. 

WILLIAM  BUPFALOW,  aged  thirty,  enlisted  August  10,  1862, 
and  served  with  the  company  until  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek, 
July  19,  1864,  where  he  was  mortally  wounded  and  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy.  He  was  taken  to  Atlanta,  where  he  died 
July  21. 

OLIVER  P.  BEHYMER,  aged  twenty,  enlisted  August  18,  1862, 
served  with  the  company  to  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  July 
19,  1864,  where  he  was  wounded  by  gunshot  in  left  leg.  He  recov- 
ered, returned  to  duty,  and  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois,  where 
he  died  about  1885. 

BENJAMIN  F.  BLAIR,  aged  twenty-one,  enlisted  August  13, 
and  deserted  November  9,  1862. 

MAURICE  CURRAN,  aged  twenty-two,  enlisted  July  25,  1862, 
served  with  the  company  throughout  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to  Kansas,  where  he  was 
killed  by  the  kick  of  a  horse  in  about  1898. 

BAZIL  COZAD,  aged  twenty-five,  enlisted  August  20,  1862,  and 
served  with  the  company  until  killed  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree 
creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  His  remains  are  interred  at  No. 
7928  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Georgia. 

HENRY  CONNOR,  aged  twenty-three,  enlisted  August  20,  1862, 
served  in  the  Kentucky  campaign  until  after  the  battle  of  Perry- 
ville, when  he  was  taken  sick  and  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Danville, 
Ky.,  where  he  died  November  6,  1862.  His  remains  are  buried  at 
No.  62  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Danville,  Ky. 

DAVID  CORNHAM,  aged  twenty-one,  enlisted  August  13,  1862, 
served  with  the  company  until  killed  in  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree 
creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  B.  369 

SAMUEL  DANA  WAIN,  aged  twenty-one,  enlisted  August  20, 
1862,  and  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  November  28,  1862. 

CHARLES  D.  DARE  was  born  in  Highland  county,  Ohio,  May 
3,  1839,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1844,  and  enlisted 
August  4,  1862.  He  served  with  the  company  until  knocked  down 
and  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19, 
1864,  and  was  exchanged  in  October  following.  Returning  to  duty 
he  was  mounted  as  a  scout  in  the  campaign  through  the  Carolinas 
and  was  again  captured  near  Goldsboro,  N.  C.  He  was  held  in 
Saulsbury,  Danville  and  Libby  prisons  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  was  honorably  discharged  July  18,  1865.  He  resides  at  Dun- 
can's Mills,  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 

AMOS  EVELAND,  aged  twenty-three,  enlisted  July  20,  1862, 
and  served  with  the  company  until  killed  at  the  battle  of  Peach 
Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  Is  buried  at  No.  1915  in  the 
national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

JOSEPH  H.  FITCH,  aged  twenty-six,  enlisted  July  26,  1862, 
served  with  the  company  until  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Kennesaw 
Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  and  as  he  was  absent  (sick  of 
wounds)  when  the  regiment  was  mustered  out,  it  is  probable  that 
his  wound  disabled  him  for  active  service.  He  was  mustered  out 
from  the  hospital  at  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  July  3,  1865,  and  is  reported 
to  have  died  some  years  later,  probably  in  1896.  He  resided  near 
Lewistown,  111. 

DAVID  FOX  enlisted  at  the  age  of  forty-three,  and  served  with 
the  company  until  near  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  sent  to 
the  hospital,  and  was  honorably  discharged  for  disability  from  the 
hospital  at  Quincy,  111.,  April  3,  1865.  He  died  soon  after  return- 
ing home. 

JOHN  GRAY  enlisted  at  the  age  of  twenty-five,  served  through 
the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  August 
10,  1863.  He  returned  to  his  home  in  Fulton  county,  resumed 
farming,  and  died  near  Waterford  in  about  1872. 

WILLIAM  GREATHOUSE  enlisted  at  the  age  of  twenty-four, 
served  with  the  company  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and 
was  discharged  for  disability  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  22,  1863. 
He  died  July  29,  1893. 

JAMES  GREATHOUSE,  JR.,  aged  twenty-two,  enlisted  from 
Bath,  in  Mason  county.  He  is  reported  on  the  muster  out  roll  as 
having  died,  but  neither  time  nor  place  is  given. 


370  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

JOHNSTON  GALBRAITH  enlisted  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine 
years,  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  Jan.  3, 1863. 

JAMES  F.  GOODMAN,  aged  twenty-two,  deserted  at  Mitchell- 
ville,  Tenn.,  November  8,  1862. 

CHARLES  HURLEY  enlisted  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  served 
with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Mason  county,  resumed  farm- 
ing, and  died  near  Teheran,  111.,  January  16,  1890. 

JOHN  W.  HEALD,  aged  twenty-one  at  enlistment.  He  served 
with  his  company  until  captured,  probably  on  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign, and  was  honorably  discharged  from  Springfield,  111.,  May 
24,  1865.  His  last  known  address  was  Parsons,  Labette  county, 
Kansas. 

JOHN  HAMILTON,  aged  twenty-five,  deserted  at  Peoria,  111. 

BARTHOLOMEW  HURLEY  enlisted  at  the  age  of  twenty  years 
and  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  was  sent  to  the  hos- 
pital soon  after  reaching  Nashville,  and  died  January  23,  1863.  Is 
buried  at  No.  6016  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

WILLIAM  D.  HOLMES  enlisted  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years, 
served  with  his  company  until  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach 
Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  was  honorably  discharged 
from  the  hospital  at  Quincy,  111.,  April  3,  1865.  Is  supposed  to  be 
living  at  Vermont,  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 

DAVID  HOLTY  enlisted  at  the  age  of  forty-three,  and  deserted 
at  Peoria,  111. 

RICHARD  JONES,  aged  eighteen,  deserted  at  Peoria,  111. 

BENJAMIN  JONES,  aged  twenty-four,  served  with  his  com- 
pany to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. He  died  June  9,  1898,  at  Connersville,  Ind. 

BENJAMIN  F.  KRATZER  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Indi- 
ana, November  9,  1835,  and  removed  to  Illinois  in  1855.  He  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862,  and  was 
transferred  to  the  marine  brigade  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  March, 
1863.  He  served  with  that  organization  on  the  Mississippi  river 
until  discharged  at  Vicksburg,  Miss.,  January  17,  1865.  He  re- 
moved to  California  in  1888,  and  served  as  a.  justice  of  the  peace  in 
San  Diego  county.  He  is  now  an  inmate  of  the  Soldiers'  Home  in 
Los  Angeles,  Cal. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  B.  371 

THOMAS  G.  LINDERMAN,  aged  thirty-four,  enlisted  from 
Fulton  county,  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Fulton 
county,  resumed  farming,  and  resides  near  Ipava,  111. 

DAVID  MORRIS  was  born  in  Manchester,  Adams  county,  Ohio, 
August  15,  1836,  and  removed  to  Illinois  in  1854.  He  served  with 
his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  He  now  resides  at  No.  203  Lower  Hamilton  street, 
Peoria,  111. 

ALVERO  C.  MINTONYE  was  born  in  Dearborn,  Wayne  county, 
Michigan,  October  25,  1836,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois in  1850.  He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  slightly 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27, 
1864,  but  not  disabled  for  duty.  He  removed  to  Iowa  after  he  was 
mustered  out;  is  tinner  by  trade,  and  resides  at  Garden  Grove, 
Decatur  county. 

ENOCH  MUSTARD,  aged  twenty-one  at  enlistment,  served 
with  his  company  until  he  died  on  the  march  to  the  sea,  near 
Ebenezer  creek,  Georgia,  December  8,  1864. 

LUCIUS  MUSTARD,  aged  twenty-one  at  enlistment,  served 
with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  died  in  about  1875. 

GEORGE  F.  MARANVILLE,  aged  thirty-one  when  he  enlisted 
August  4,  1862,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  Returning  to  his  former  home  he  resumed 
farming,  and  was  drowned  in  the  river  near  Havana,  111.,  in  about 
1876. 

JOHN  M.  McCONNAHAY,  aged  twenty-two  when  he  enlisted 
August  12,  1862,  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  an  inmate  of 
the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Quincy,  111.,  when  killed  by  the  street  cars 
on  January  28,  1892. 

MICHAEL  E.  MILLER  enlisted  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  on 
August  15,  1862,  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  died  in  Springfield, 
111.,  August  24,  1897. 


372  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

DAVID  NOYES  enlisted  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  and  prob- 
ably died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  but  there  is  nothing  on  the  record 
by  which  the  date  and  place  can  be  given. 

STEPHEN  H.  NOTT  was  born  in  Eugene,  Vermillion  county, 
Indiana,  May  10,  1840,  and  with  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois  in 
the  autumn  of  that  year.  He  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Fulton  county.  He  served  with  his  company  through  all  the  cam- 
paigns in  which  the  command  was  engaged  until  captured  at  the 
battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia.  He  was  held  a  prisoner  in 
Andersonville  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged July  22,  1865.  He  returned  to  Fulton  county,  resumed 
farming,  has  been  school  director,  and  now  resides  at  Lewis- 
town,  111. 

JAMES  E.  NICHOLS  enlisted  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine  on 
August  20,  1862.  He  served  with  his  company  until  near  the  close 
of  the  war,  but  was  absent  (sick)  at  the  muster  out  of  the  regi- 
ment. His  subsequent  career  is  unknown. 

JOHN  H.  O'LEARY  enlisted  from  Mason  county  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two,  served  with  his  company  until  captured  at  the  battle 
of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  was  held  a  pris- 
oner of  war  until  the  war  closed,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
at  Springfield,  111.,  July  22,  1865.  He  resides  in  Bath,  111. 

EBENEZER  PAUL,  aged  forty-three  when  he  enlisted  on  July 
26,  1862,  served  with  his  company  through  the  Kentucky  campaign 
and  was  discharged  for  disability  on  February  8,  1863.  He  is  re- 
ported to  have  died  in  Nebraska  about  1876. 

SAMUEL  PAUL,  aged  forty-one,  enlisted  August  20,  1862, 
served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  for 
disability  February  8,  1863.  He  died  soon  after  the  close  of  the 
war. 

ROBERT  PORTER  was  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland,  in  1831, 
and  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1851.  He  enlisted  as 
a  farmer  from  Fulton  county,  and  served  with  his  company 
through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  had  a  part.  He 
was  wounded  while  guarding  a  train  to  Murfreesborough,  Tenn., 
but  not  severely.  He  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment,  re- 
turned to  Fulton  county,  and  resumed  farming.  He  now  resides 
at  Lewistown,  111. 

THOMAS  J.  RATCLIFF  enlisted  at  the  age  of  twenty-two, 
served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  for 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  B.  373 

disability  October  18,  1863.  He  died  at  Lincoln,  111.,  before  the 
close  of  the  war. 

FRANKLIN  RICHARDSON  enlisted  from  Fulton  county  at  the 
age  of  thirty-five,  and  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  but  was  ab- 
sent (sick)  at  the  muster  out  of  the  regiment.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  August  30,  1865,  and  returned  to  Fulton  county,  where 
he  died  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war. 

WILLIAM  H.  SKILES  enlisted  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  and 
served  with  the  company  through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the 
regiment  was  engaged  until  his  health  failed  on  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign. He  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Tullahoma,  Tenn.,  where  he 
died  on  July  25,  1864. 

JOHN  F.  M.  SINGLETON,  aged  nineteen  when  he  enlisted 
August  20,  1862,  and  served  to  the. close  of  the  war.  He  was  hon- 
orably discharged  May  27,  1865,  and  is  supposed  to  be  living  in 
Missouri. 

JOSHUA  T.  SINGLETON  enlisted  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  and 
served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  His  thigh  was  broken 
by  a  gun  shot,  and  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  and  died  at 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  21. 

WILLIAM  SOUTHWOOD  enlisted  from  Fulton  county  at  the 
age  of  twenty-five,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Fulton  county,  and 
now  resides  at  Lewistown,  111. 

ELLIS  SOUTHWOOD  was  born  in  Waterford,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  in  1845,  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  and  served  to  the  close 
of  the  war.  He  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
Ky.,  October  8,  1862.  He  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment, 
returned  to  Fulton  county,  resumed  farming,  and  now  resides 
near  Lewistown,  111. 

CHARLES  SPINK  enlisted  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  served 
with  his  company  until  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia, 
July  19,  1864,  where  he  was  instantly  killed.  His  remains  are 
buried  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga.,  at  No.  1914. 

DAVID  or  JACOB  SHOCK,  aged  thirty-five,  deserted  at  Peoria, 
Illinois. 

JAMES  B.  THOMAS,  aged  twenty-one,  enlisted  July  26,  1862, 
and  served  in  the  Kentucky  campaign  until  the  regiment  reached 
Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  where  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital.  He  died 


374  HISTORY  OF  THE  8STH  ILLINOIS. 

January  29,  1863,  and  his  remains  are  buried  at  No.  10539  in  the 
national  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

JAMES  W.  TIPPEY  was  born  in  Yilliamson  county,  Illinois, 
in  3839,  and  enlisted  from  Fulton  county.  Served  through  the 
Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  transferred  to  the  invalid  corps  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.  He  was  honorably  discharged,  returned  to  Ful- 
ton county,  resumed  farming,  and  now  resides  at  Enion,  111. 

JAMES  W.  TIPPEY  was  born  in  Williamson  county,  Illinois, 
vember  27,  1836,  and  enlisted  from  Fulton  county.  He  was  de- 
tached as  blacksmith  and  served  in  that  capacity  to  the  close  of 
the  war  ,and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned 
to  Fulton  county,  where  he  resumed  his  trade — that  of  a  black- 
smith. His  address  is  Duncan's  Mills,  111. 

WILLIAM  B.  WINCHELL  was  born  in  Ohio,  July  8,  1838,  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Fulton  county.  He  served 
with  the  company  until  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek, 
Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  was  a  prisoner  some  two  months,  when  he 
was  exchanged,  and  served  to  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment,  returned  to  Fulton  county,  and  re- 
sumed farming.  He  resides  at  Lewistown,  111. 

GEORGE  WINCHELL,  aged  twenty-one,  enlisted  from  Ful- 
ton county,  and  served  with  his  company  until  captured  at  the 
battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  was  ex- 
changed some  two  months  later,  returned  to  his  company,  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to  Iowa  some 
years  ago,  where  he  now  resides. 

JAMES  H.  WESTERFIELD  was  born  in  1838,  and  enlisted 
from  Fulton  county.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Fulton  county, 
but  died  soon  after. 

JAMES  McKALlP — Muster  out  roll  gives  nothing  about  this 
soldier,  except  that  he  was  discharged  for  disability  February  8, 
1863.  This  is  an  error.  He  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  his  remains 
are  buried  at  No.  295  in  the  national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

THOMAS  E.  PAUL — Date  of  enlistment  not  given  on  the  roll. 
Died  December  7,  1862,  and  is  buried  at  No.  5666  in  the  national 
cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

SILAS  STRODE — Date  of  enlistment  not  given.  Discharged 
lor  disability  April  22,  1863.  Is  said  to  reside  in  Cuba,  111. 

JAMES  T.  PIERCE  (Quartermaster  sergeant.  See  field  and 
staff). 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  C.  375 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 


Company  C  was  enrolled  by  Samuel  Black,  a  farmer 
residing  near  Mason  City,  between  July  23  and  August 
15,  1862,  the  entire  company,  except  two — one  from 
Logan  and  one  from  Peoria — enlisting  from  Mason 
county.  At  the  organization  of  the  company  the  fol- 
lowing commissioned  officers  were  elected:  Samuel 
Black,  captain;  George  A.  Blanchard,  first  lieutenant, 
and  Dr.  William  W.  Walker,  second  lieutenant. 

Of  the  102  officers  and  men  originally  mustered  in  8 
were  killed  in  action,  7  died  of  wounds,  and  14  were  hit 
whose  wounds  did  not  prove  fatal  while  in  the  service,  22 
died  of  disease,  24  were  discharged  for  disability,  7  were 
transferred,  2  officers  resigned  and  31  officers  and  men 
were  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

The  company  bore  well  its  part,  and  did  its  full  share 
in  making  the  history  of  the  regiment  one  of  which  its 
members  may  be  justly  proud. 

THE   COMPANY  ROSTER. 

CAPTAIN  SAMUEL  BLACK  was  born  in  Sangamon  county, 
Illinois,  July  4,  1827,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  en- 
tered the  service  from  Mason  county.  He  commanded  the  com- 
pany through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  resigned  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  February  7,  1863,  and  returned  home.  He  removed  to  Wis- 
consin in  July,  1863,  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Dunn  county.  Has 
served  as  county  clerk  six  years,  and  as  justice  of  peace,  chairman 
of  the  town  board,  and  member  of  the  legislature.  He  has  also 
been  engaged  in  merchandising  and  in  the  livery  business.  He  is 
retired  now,  and  resides  at  Menomonie,  Dunn  county,  Wisconsin. 

CAPTAIN  GEORGE  A.  BLANCHARD  was  born  in  Henderson, 
Jefferson  county,  New  York,  May  14,  1833,  and  with  his  parents, 
Aaron  and  Anna  Blanchard,  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  St. 


376  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

Charles  in  Kane  county,  in  1838.  He  served  for  a  time  as  deputy 
sheriff  and  circuit  clerk  of  Kane  county,  married  Amanda  Walker, 
March  17,  1857,  and  removed  to  Havana,  in  Mason  county,  where 
he  engaged  in  general  merchandise.  He  assisted  in  recruiting 
Company  C,  and  at  the  organization  of  the  company  was  elected 
first  lieutenant.  He  was  promoted  to  be  captain  February  7,  1863, 
and  commanded  the  company  until  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach 
Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  was  held  in  various  rebel 
prisons  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
May  15,  1865.  Upon  his  return  to  Havana  he  was  appointed  master 
in  chancery  for  Mason  county,  holding  the  position  until  1868, 
when  he  was  elected  circuit  clerk.  At  the  close  of  a  four-years' 
term  he  became  the  secretary  of  the  Springfield  and  Northwestern 
railway,  and  was  serving  in  that  capacity  when  he  died  May  4, 
1875. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  W.  WALKER  was  born  in 
Adair  county,  Kentucky,  July  8,  1822,  removed  to  Illinois  and  was 
engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Mason  county  when  he 
enlisted  in  August,  1862.  He  was  elected  second  lieutenant  at  the 
organization  of  the  company,  served  with  his  company  through  the 
Kentucky  and  Murfreesborough  campaigns  and  was  promoted 
first  lieutenant  February  7,  1863.  He  took  part  in  the  Tennessee 
campaign  and  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Ga.,  but  soon  after  his 
health  failed  and  he  resigned  for  disability  incurred  in  the  service. 
He  returned  to  Mason  county,  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion, which  he  continued  until  a  short  time  previous  to  his  death. 
He  died  at  Easton,  111.,  March  20,  1890. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT  JAMES  M.  HAMILTON  was  born  in 
Morgan  county,  Illinois,  in  1834,  and  was  an  unmarried  farmer 
when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  City,  in  Mason  county.  He  was 
chosen  fifth  sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the  company,  served 
through  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  campaigns,  and  was  promoted 
second  lieutenant  October  7,  1863.  He  participated  in  all  the 
campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged  until  captured  in 
the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  was  ex- 
changed before  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment  and  returned  to  Mason  City,  111.,  where  he  died  in 
about  1874. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  WILLIAM  M.  HAMILTON  was  born  in 
Morgan  county,  Illinois,  in  1834,  and  was  farming  in  Mason  county 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  C.  377 

when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  City.  He  was  chosen  first  sergeant 
at  the  organization  of  the  company,  served  through  the  Kentucky 
campaign,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  January  27,  1863. 
When  last  heard  from  he  resided  at  Reno,  Cass  county,  Iowa. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  JOHN  H.  DUVALL  was  born  in  Fleming 
county,  Kentucky,  in  1838,  removed  to  Illinois  and  was  married 
and  a  school  teacher  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  City.  He  was 
chosen  third  sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the  company,  served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  receiving  a  slight  wound  at  the 
battle  of  Perry ville,  Ky.  He  was  promoted  first  sergeant  and 
served  with  his  company  in  all  the  campaigns  and  actions  in  which 
the  regiment  was  engaged  until  killed  at  the  assault  on  Kennesaw 
Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No. 
8726  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  JOHN  HOUSEWORTH  was  born  in  Selin's 
Grove,  Suyder  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1841,  and  was  a  black- 
smith residing  at  Mason  City,  111.,  when  he  enlisted.  He  was 
chosen  fourth  sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the  company  and 
was  promoted  first  sergeant  when  Sergeant  Duvall  was  killed  at 
the  battle  of  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  He 
served  with  his  company  until  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach 
Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  was  held  prisoner  to  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  discharged  June  17,  1865.  He  re- 
turned to  Mason  City,  111.,  where  he  died  in  about  1875. 

SERGEANT  ANDREW  RICHEY  was  born  in  Donegal,  Ireland, 
in  1824;  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  was  a  harness  maker  when  he 
enlisted  from  Mason  City.  He  was  chosen  sergeant  at  the  organi- 
zation of  the  company,  served  through  the  Kentucky  and  Mur- 
freesboro  campaigns,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  August 
18,  1863.  He  returned  to  his  family  at  Mason  City,  111.,  where  he 
died  soon  after. 

SERGEANT  HENRY  H.  BUCK  was  the  son  of  Captain  Fred- 
erick Buck,  a  native  of  Denmark,  and  Esther  Lawson,  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  and  was  born  in  Havana,  Mason  county,  Illinois, 
August  21,  1835.  He  attended  the  Illinois  college  at  Jacksonville 
from  1854  to  1858,  when  failing  health  compelled  him  to  quit  his 
studies.  He  taught  school  at  Bath  and  Mason  City  and  enlisted 
from  the  latter  place.  He  was  promoted  sergeant  and  participated 
in  all  the  campaigns  and  battles  in  which  the  regiment  had  a  part 
until  instantly  killed  by  a  shell  that  shattered  his  skull  at  the  as- 


378  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

sault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  He  was  bur- 
ied with  so  many  others  where  he  fell,  but  in  1866  his  remains 
were  brought  to  his  former  home,  and  interred  in  the  cemetery  at 
Havana,  111. 

SERGEANT  GEORGE  BLACK  was  born  in  Dalrymple,  Ayr- 
shire county,  Scotland,  in  1828,  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  enlisted 
as  a  farmer  from  Mason  county.  He  served  through  the  Ken- 
tucky campaign,  was  promoted  sergeant  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and 
had  a  part  in  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  en- 
gaged until  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia, 
July  19,  1864.  He  was  held  in  various  rebel  prisons  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged  under  date  of  June 
17,  1865.  He  returned  to  Mason  county,  but  soon  after  went  west, 
and  is  supposed  to  have  died. 

SERGEANT  JAMES  S.  CHESTER  was  born  at  Leesburgh, 
'Cumberland  county,  New  Jersey,  April  9,  1843,  and  with  his  par- 
ents removed  to  Illinois  in  1857.  He  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from 
Mason  county,  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
Ky.,  October  8,  1862,  and  served  with  his  company  through  all  the 
campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged.  He  was  promoted 
sergeant  in  December,  1864,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Upon  his  return  he  resumed 
farming  in  Mason  county,  and  resides  at  Easton,  111. 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  H.  MITCHELL  was  born  in  Salem, 
Washington  county,  Indiana,  September  18,  1838,  removed  to  Illi- 
nois in  1859,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  county.  He  was  promoted  sergeant,  served  with  his  com- 
pany to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. Returning  to  Mason  county  he  engaged  in  farming  until 
1890,  when  he  removed  to  Chicago  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate 
and  insurance  business.  He  resides  at  No.  5941  Princeton  avenue, 
Chicago,  111. 

SERGEANT  ROBERT  LOFTON  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Indiana,  in  1835,  and  was  a  married  farmer  when  he  en- 
listed from  Mason  City.  He  was  promoted  sergeant,  served  with 
his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  After  his  return  to  his  former  home  he  removed  to 
Ford  county,  and  died  near  Paxton,  111.,  in  1875. 

SERGEANT  JAMES  LEEPER,  aged  thirty-six,  was  married 
an-1  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  was  pro- 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  C  379 

moted  sergeant,  served  with  his  company  until  killed  by  a  shell  at 
Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  25,  1864.  He  was  lying  in  his 
shelter  tent  when  a  shot  from  the  battery  on  the  mountain  cut 
him  in  twain.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  555  in  the  national 
cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

CORPORAL  JACOB  B.  LOGNE,  aged  twenty-three,  born  in 
Cass  county,  Illinois,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  was 
chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  company,  served  to  the 
close  of  the  war,  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment,  and  now 
resides  at  Rockport,  Atchison  county,  Missouri. 

CORPORAL  HARVEY  H.  HUTCHENS,  aged  thirty-five,  born 
in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  married,  farmer,  enlisted  from 
Mason  county,  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany, served  with  his  company  through  the  Kentucky  campaign; 
his  health  failing  he  was  discharged  January  22,  1863.  Returning 
home  he  never  entirely  recovered  and  died  at  Mason  City.  111.,  in 
about  1869. 

CORPORAL  JAMES  O.  LOGNE,  aged  thirty,  born  in  Cass 
county,  Illinois,  was  unmarried  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted 
from  Mason  county,  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the 
company,  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign;  his  health  fail- 
ing he  was  discharged  January  7,  1863,  and  died  at  Lincoln,  111., 
on  his  way  home. 

CORPORAL  JAMES  L.  HASTINGS  (promoted  hospital  stew- 
ard. See  field  and  staff). 

CORPORAL  JAMES  J.  PELHAM  was  born  in  Sangamon 
county,  Illinois,  June  20,  1831,  was  a  farmer  and  enlisted  from 
Mason  county.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the 
company;  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  but  his  health 
failed  and  he  was  discharged  from  Nashville,  Tenn.,  for  disability 
under  date  of  February  13,  1863.  He  is  a  veterinary  surgeon,  and 
resides  at  Thermopolis,  Fremont  county,  Wyoming. 

CORPORAL  CYRUS  R.  QUIGLEY  was  born  in  Napoleon,  Jack- 
son county,  Michigan,  March  21,  1841;  removed  to  Illinois  and  was 
a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  served  through 
the  Kentucky  campaign,  was  a  member  of  Captain  Powell's 
mounted  scouts  some  two  months  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  orderly  at 
General  Granger's  headquarters  one  month,  then  sent  to  convales- 
cent camp.  He  served  in  Company  K,  Eighth  Veteran  reserve 


380  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

corps  until  March,  1865,  -when  he  was  returned  to  his  company  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  is  engaged  in  farming 
near  Decatur,  Decatur  county,  Iowa,  that  town  being  his  postofflce 
address. 

CORPORAL  ANDREW  J.  OPDYKE  was  born  in  Fort  Wayne, 
Allen  county,  Indiana,  December  26,  1836;  removed  with  his  par- 
ents to  Illinois  in  1854,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he 
enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  served  with  his  company  through 
all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged  until 
wounded  at  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27, 
1864.  His  wound  disabled  him  for  further  service  and  he  was 
honorably  discharged  from  the  hospital  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  Feb- 
ruary 18,  1865.  He  removed  to  California  in  December,  1870,  and 
is  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  postmaster  at  Cayton  from  1884 
to  1893.  His  address  is  Cayton,  Shasta  county,  California. 

CORPORAL  PLEASANT  ARMSTRONG,  aged  thirty-three, 
born  in  Menard  county,  Illinois,  was  married  and  a  farmer  when 
he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the 
organization  of  the  company,  served  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign, was  transferred  to  the  marine  brigade  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
and  died  in  the  service.  Date  and  place  unknown. 

CORPORAL  THOMAS  H.  B.  HOLLINGSWORTH,  aged  twenty- 
seven,  born  in  Windham  county,  Connecticut,  was  married  and  a 
farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  was  appointed 
wagoner  at  the  organization  of  the  company,  was  promoted  cor- 
poral, served  through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment 
was  engaged,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  re- 
moved to  Minnesota  after  the  war  closed,  but  his  address  is  not 
known  to  the  writer. 

CORPORAL  WILLIAM  D.  ALKIRE  was  born  in  Menard 
county,  Illinois,  August  23,  1838,  and  was  a  married  farmer  when 
he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  served  with  his  company 
through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged 
until  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19, 
1864;  was  held  prisoner  until  April  28,  1865,  when  he  was  ex- 
changed. He  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw 
Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  was  promoted  corporal  and  hon- 
orably discharged  June  17,  1865.  He  removed  to  Iowa  in  August, 
1865,  has  been  justice  of  the  peace  in  Cass  county;  is  farming,  and 
resides  at  Thurman,  Fremont  county,  Iowa. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  C.  381 

CORPORAL  ALMON  BROOKS,  aged  twenty-seven,  born  in 
Union  county,  Ohio,  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted 
from  Mason  county,  Illinois.  He  was  promoted  corporal,  served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
April  7,  1863.  Is  buried  at  No.  3257  in  the  national  cemetery  near 
that  city. 

CORPORAL  CHANNING  CLARK,  aged  twenty-four,  born  in 
Williamantic,  Windham  county,  Connecticut,  removed  to  Illinois, 
and  enlisted  as  unmarried  and  a  farmer  from  Mason  county.  He 
was  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perry ville,  Ky.,  October  8, 
1862,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  but  was  absent  (sick)  at  the 
muster  out  of  the  regiment.  Returning,  he  resumed  farming  near 
Easton,  111.,  where  he  died. 

CORPORAL  FRANCIS  A.  CHESTER  was  born  near  Lees- 
burgh,  Cumberland  county,  New  Jersey,  March  15,  1841,  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1857,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from 
Mason  county.  He  served  with  his  company  in  all  the  campaigns 
and  battles  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged;  was  promoted 
corporal,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Returning  to 
Mason  county  at  the  close  of  the  war  he  resumed  farming,  has 
served  as  school  trustee  from  1878  to  1887,  and  resides  at  Teheran, 
111. 

CORPORAL  JEREMIAH  HOLLEY,  aged  thirty-seven,  born  in 
Lawrence  county,  Ohio,  farmer  and  married  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  county.  He  served  with  his  company  until  captured  at 
the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864;  was  held  in 
rebel  prisons  until  the  close  of  the  war;  was  promoted  corporal, 
and  honorably  discharged  June  17,  1865.  His  last  known  address 
is  Chillicothe,  Mo. 

CORPORAL  JESSE  C.  MONTGOMERY,  aged  thirty-two,  born 
in  Gibson  county,  Indiana,  married  and  a  bricklayer  when  he  en- 
listed from  Mason  City,  111.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky 
campaign,  was  promoted  corporal,  and  transferred  to  the  marine 
brigade  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  January  13,  1863.  Is  reported  to  be 
living  at  Petersburg,  111. 

CORPORAL  ANDREW  McCLARIN,  aged  twenty-eight,  born  in 
Plainfield,  Union  county,  New  Jersey,  removed  to  Illinois,  was 
single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  City.  He  was 
promoted  corporal  and  served  with  his  company  until  severely 


382  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864. 
He  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  and  died  in  rebel  prison 
August  4,  1864. 

CORPORAL  WILLIAM  C.  PELHAM,  aged  thirty-two,  was  mar- 
ried and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  Was  pro- 
moted corporal;  his  health  failing  on  the  Kentucky  campaign  he 
was  left  in  the  hospital  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  where  he  died  No- 
vember 11,  1862. 

CORPORAL  THOMAS  STAGG,  aged  twenty-five,  born  in  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  county,  Illinois.  He  was  promoted  corporal,  served  with 
his  company  until  severely  wounded  and  captured  at  the  battle  of 
Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  died  at  Atlanta,  Ga., 
July  28,  1864. 

MUSICIAN  GEORGE  W.  DEITRICH,  aged  twenty,  born  in 
Selin's  Grove,  Snyder  county,  Pennsylvania,  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Illinois,  and  was  a  shoemaker  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  City.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign  and  was 
discharged  for  disability  February  19,  1863.  Is  supposed  to  be  liv- 
ing in  St.  Joseph,  Mo. 

MUSICIAN  BENJAMIN  F.  SCOVIL  was  born  in  Waterford, 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  January  1,  1846,  and  enlisted  from  his  na- 
tive county.  He  served  with  his  company  until  captured  at  the 
battle  of  Peach  Tree  Creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  and  was  held 
in  rebel  prisons  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged June  17,  1865.  He  removed  to  North  Dakota,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming,  and  has  been  postmaster  at  McKinzie,  Bur- 
leigh  county,  since  1888. 

JOHN  H.  ATCHINSON,  aged  twenty-three,  born  in  St. 
Clair  county,  Illinois;  was  single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted 
from  Mason  county.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign, 
and  was  discharged  for  disability  January  17,  1863.  Last  heard 
from  at  Shawneetown,  111. 

MICHAEL  ATCHINSON,  aged  twenty-two,  married  and  a 
farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  served  with  his 
company  until  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Geor- 
gia, July  19,  1864;  was  held  in  ret»el  prisons  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  was  honorably  discharged  June  17,  1865..  He  returned 
to  Illinois;  resumed  farming,  and  died  near  Shawneetown,  April  6, 
1898. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  C.  383 

WILLIAM  ARMSTRONG,  aged  twenty-nine,  born  in  Menard 
county,  Illinois,  was  single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  county.  He  was  discharged  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  for  disabil- 
ity, but  no  date  appears  upon  the  record.  He  returned  to  Mason 
county,  resumed  farming,  and  died  near  Easton,  111.,  May  5,  1899. 

Note — A  few  years  before  the  war  this  soldier  was  tried 
for  murder;  defended  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  and  acquitted 
by  the  jury  without  leaving  their  seats.  Armstrong  had 
been  present  at  an  evening  meeting  where  a  man  was 
killed,  and  although  entirely  innocent,  a  conspiracy  was 
formed  to  convict  him  of  the  crime.  At  the  trial,  each  of 
the  prosecuting  witnesses  testified  to  seeing  the  knife  glit- 
ter in  Armstrong's  hand  when  he  struck  the  fatal  blow,  by 
the  light  of  the  moon.  Whereupon  Mr.  Lincoln  introduced 
an  almanac  in  evidence,  which  showed  that  the  murder 
was  committed  in  the  dark  of  the  moon. 

DAVID  BRADFORD,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  Madison 
county,  Ohio;  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county, 
Illinois;  served  with  his  company  until  captured  at  the  battle  of 
Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  was  thought  to  have 
died  in  prison,  but  the  record  shows  that  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged from  Springfield,  111.,  June  7,  1865. 

JOHN  L.  BURNETT,  aged  thirty-two,  born  in  Clay  county, 
Indiana;  married,  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason 
county,  Illinois;  served  with  his  company  until  killed  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  His  remains 
are  buried  at  No.  9313,  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

WILLIAM  CLARK,  aged  twenty-one,  born  and  raised  in 
Mason  county,  from  whence  he  enlisted;  served  in  the  Kentucky 
campaign  until  his  health  failed;  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Bowl- 
ing Green,  Ky.,  where  he  died  November  16,  1862. 

NELSON  D.  CUE,  aged  eighteen,  born  in  Menard  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Mason  county.  He  served  with 
his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois;  resumed  farming,  and  resides 
at  Greenview,  Menard  county. 

JOSEPH  W.  CARTER,  born  in  Mercer  county,  New  Jersey, 
removed  to  Illinois;  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted 
from  Mason  county,  Illinois,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three.  He 
served  with  his  company  through  the  Kentucky  campaign  and  was 
sent  to  the  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  from  which  he  was  dis- 


384  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

charged  for  disability  November  7,  1862.    He  resides  at  Scotts- 
ville,  Mitchell  county,  Kansas. 

SAMUEL  DERWENT,  aged  thirty-five,  born  in  Yorkshire 
county,  England;  emigrated  to  Illinois;  was  single  and  a  farmer 
when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  served  with  his  com- 
pany through  the  Kentucky  campaign;  was  sent  to  the  hospital 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  died  December  19,  1862.  Is  buried 
at  No.  4451,  in  the  national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

JEREMIAH  DEITRICH,  aged  thirty-one,  born  at  Selin's 
Grove,  Snyder  county,  Pennsylvania;  removed  to  Illinois,  and  was 
a  married  shoemaker  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He 
served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  at  the  assault  on 
Kennesaw  mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864;  was  removed  to  the 
hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  died  on  July  13,  following. 
Is  buried  at  No.  9709,  in  the  national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

SAMUEL  A.  DRAY,  aged  twenty-three,  born  in  Steubenville, 
Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois  and  was  single  and  a 
farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  served  with  his 
company  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  Resides  at  Canton,  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 

PETER  DOLCATER,  aged  twenty-five,  born  in  Dornburg,  Ger- 
many, emigrated  to  Illinois,  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he 
enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  served  with  his  company  until 
near  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital.  He 
was  honorably  discharged  from  the  general  hospital  at  Spring- 
field, 111.,  January  26,  1865. 

DANIEL  DAUGHERTY,  aged  twenty-five,  born  in  Adams 
county,  Ohio,  was  single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  county,  Illinois.  He  served  with  his  company  until  severe- 
ly wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June 
27,  1864;  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  where 
he  died  on  August  24,  following.  Is  buried  at  No.  2090,  in  the 
national  cemetery  on  Orchard  Knob. 

EPHRAIM  GATES,  aged  twenty-two,  born  in  Jefferson  county, 
Illinois,  was  single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason 
county.  He  served  with  his  company  until  failing  health  sent 
him  to  the  hospital  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  where  he  died  Novem- 
ber 18,  1862.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  10685,  in  the  national 
cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  C.  385 

ELBERT  L.  GARDNER  wac  T»orn  in  Morgan,  Ashtabula  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  November  27,  1844,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1857,  and  was  a 
farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  served  with  his 
company  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  but  failing  health  sent 
him  to  the  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  Later  he  was  removed  to 
the  general  hospital  at  Harrodsburg,  Ky.,  where  he  was  discharged 
for  disability  March  16,  1863.  He  is  a  carpenter  by  trade  and 
resides  at  Dun  Station,  Wilson  county,  Kansas. 

JAMES  M.  GARDNER,  aged  nineteen,  born  in  Ashtabula  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois  and  enlisted  from  Mason  county  as  a 
farmer.  He  served  with  his  company  until  captured  at  the  battle 
of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  but  was  exchanged  and 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment. 

JOHN  R.  GARDNER,  aged  thirty,  born  in  New  York,  removed 
to  Illinois,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county. 
He  served  with  his  company  until  captured  near  Dallas,  Ga.,  May 
28,  1864;  was  held  in  rebel  prisons  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  July  15,  1865.  He  removed  to  Kansas 
and  is  reported  to  have  died  somewhere  in  that  state. 

JOHN  A.  GARDNER,  aged  eighteen,  born  in  Ashtabula  county, 
Ohio,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Mason  county.  His  health 
failed  while  on  the  Kentucky  campaign  and  he  was  left  in  the 
hospital  at  Harrodsburg,  Ky.,  where  he  died  November  25,  1862. 
His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  360,  in  the  national  cemetery  at 
Camp  Nelson,  Ky  . 

THOMAS  W.  GREEN,  aged  33,  born  in  Clark  county,  Ohio, 
married,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Mason  county,  111.  He 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. Is  supposed  to  be  living  at  Conway,  Laclede  county,  Mis- 
souri. 

GEORGE  GREGORY,  aged  twenty-three,  was  single  and  a 
farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  His  health  failed 
on  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  he  was  left  in  the  hospital  at 

Danville,  Ky.,  where  he  died .     Is  buried  at  No.  320,  in  the 

national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

DANIEL  W.  HASTINGS,  aged  nineteen,  born  in  St.  Lawrence 
county,  New  York,  was  a  farmer  residing  at  Mason  City,  111.,  when 
he  enlisted;  served  in  the  Kentucky  campaign  until  the  command 


386  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

reached  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  and 
died  November  23,  1862.  Is  buried  at  No.  10691,  in  the  national 
cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

JOHN  HARKNESS,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  Philadelphia, 
Pa.,  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  Illinois,  and  deserted  October  20, 
1862. 

EDWIN  M.  HADSALL  was  born  in  Tunkhannock,  Wyoming 
county,  Pennsylvania,  October  16,  1837,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1860, 
was  single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county. 
He  served  with  his  company  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  was 
detailed  in  Battery  I,  Second  Illinois  light  artillery  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  and  served  one  year,  returned  to  his  company  and  served 
until  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19, 
1864;  recovered,  returned  to  duty  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  He  removed  to  Kansas  in  1881,  is  a  saddler  by  trade, 
and  now  resides  at  Trading  Post,  in  Linn  county,  Kansas. 

SOLOMON  HONS,  aged  thirty-two,  born  in  Luzerne  county, 
Pennsylvania,  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  county,  Illinois.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign, and  was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  corps,  but  the 
date  is  unknown.  He  returned  to  Illinois  after  the  close  of  the 
war,  resumed  farming,  and  died  near  Mason  City. 

WESLEY  HONS,  aged  twenty-eight,  born  in  Luzerne  county, 
Pennsylvania,  was  single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  county,  Illinois.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign and  was  discharged  for  disability  March  1,  1863. 

LOUIS  ISHMAEL,  aged  twenty-four,  born  in  the  state  of  Ken- 
tucky, married,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  Illinois.  He 
served  with  his  company  until  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach 
Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864;  was  held  in  rebel  prisons  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  died  in  the  hospital  at  Annapolis,  Md. 
Is  buried  at  No.  1175,  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Annapolis,  Md. 

RICHARD  A.  LANE,  born  in  Warren  county,  Tennessee,  was 
married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  Illi- 
nois, at  the  age  of  thirty-nine.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky 
campaign,  and  the  adjutant  general's  report  says,  "He  was  dis- 
charged for  disability  January  15,  1863."  In  fact,  he  died,  and  his 
remains  are  buried  at  No.  6686,  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  C.  387 

TIDENSE  W.  LANE,  aged  twenty-three,  born  in  Pike  county, 
Illinois,  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason 
county.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  Is  reported  to  be  living  in  Iowa. 

ABRAHAM  L.  LANE,  aged  eighteen,  born  in  and  enlisted  from 
Mason  county,  Illinois,  served  with  his  company  until  health 
failed,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  April  18,  1864.  He  re- 
moved to  Iowa  after  his  return  to  Illinois,  and  died  April  — ,  1887, 
at  Atlantic,  la. 

GREEN  B.  LANE  was  born  in  McDonough  county,  Illinois, 
June  9,  1842,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Mason  county.  He 
served  with  his  company  until  wounded  at  the  assault  on  Ken- 
nesaw  mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864;  recovered  from  his 
wound,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  He  removed  to  Woodston,  Rooks  county,  Kansas, 
where  he  is  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  justice  of  the  peace  from 
1891  to  1899. 

GEORGE  A.  MOORE,  aged  thirty-three,  born  in  White  county, 
Illinois,  was  single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason 
county.  He  probably  served  with  his  company  through  the  Ken- 
tucky campaign,  but  was  discharged  for  disability  January  18, 
1863. 

ROBERT  S.  MOORE,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  Bond  county, 
Illinois,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  served  with  his  com- 
pany until  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  where  he 
died  November  18,  1862. 

GEORGE  W.  MOSLANDER  was  born  in  Sangamon  county,  Illi- 
nois, May  15,  1844;  farmer,  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  served 
through  the  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  campaigns,  and  was  slightly 
wounded  at  Kennesaw  mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  He  was 
captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19.  1864, 
and  was  held  in  rebel  prisons  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was 
honorably  discharged  June  17,  1865,  and  is  engaged  in  farming  at 
Teheran,  111. 

JOSEPH  McCARTY,  aged  thirty-two,  was  single  and  a  fanner 
when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  served  with  his  company 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  for  disability 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  but  the  date  is  unknown. 


388  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS, 

JEREMIAH  MARSHALL,  aged  twenty-one,  blacksmith,  born 
at  Cape  May,  N.  J.,  and  was  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  Illinois. 
He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign  and  was  transferred  to 
the  Fourth  regular  cavalry  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  4,  1862. 

JOHN  W.  MOSIER,  aged  twenty-seven,  born  in  Miami  county, 
Ohio,  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county, 
Illinois,  served  with  his  company  until  captured  at  the  battle  of 
Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864;  was  held  in  rebel  prisons 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  discharged  June  17, 
1865.  Returning  to  his  former  home,  he  lived  at  Easton,  111.,  for 
several  years  ,then  moved  to  Carleton,  Neb.,  and  later  to  Chicago, 
111.,  where  he  now  resides. 

JOSEPH  MOSLANDER,  aged  thirty,  born  in  Davidson  county, 
Tennessee,  single,  plasterer,  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  Illinois, 
served  with  his  company  until  his  health  failed  on  the  Atlanta 
campaign,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital  on  Lookout  mountain, 
Tennessee,  where  he  died  July  22,  1864.  Is  buried  at  No.  1662,  in 
the  national  cemetery  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

WILLIAM  H.  NEELY,  aged  thirty-five,  married,  farmer,  en- 
listed from  Mason  county,  served  with  his  company  until  severely 
wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  mountain,  Georgia,  June  27, 
1864.  He  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  thence  to 
Jeffersonville,  Ind.,  where  he  died  on  July  28,  following.  Is  buried 
at  No.  507,  in  the  national  cemetery  at  New  Albany,  Ind. 

SAMUEL  NEELY,  JR.,  aged  twenty-four,  born  in  Menard 
county,  married,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  served  to 
close  of  the  war,  but  is  marked,  "Absent  sick  at  muster  out,"  of 
the  regiment.  Probably  honorably  discharged  from  the  hospital, 
but  the  writer  has  been  unable  to  get  any  further  information  con- 
cerning him. 

WILLIAM  NEWBERRY,  aged  twenty-nine,  married,  black- 
smith, enlisted  from  Mason  county,  was  severely  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862,  and  was  discharged  for 
disability  at  Harrodsburg,  Ky.,  February  8,  1863.  Last  known 
address,  Glasgow,  Mo. 

RICHARD  A.  OSBORN  was  born  at  Danville,  Steuben  county, 
New  York,  in  1838,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1854,  and  was  a  farmer 
when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  served  through  the 
Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  from  the 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  C.  389 

regimental  hospital  at  Nashville,  Term.,  March  2,  1863.  He  re- 
turned to  Mason  county,  resumed  farming,  and  is  now  a  lumber 
and  coal  dealer  at  Mason  City,  111. 

JOSEPH  O'DONNELL,  aged  eighteen,  born  in  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  His  health  failing, 
he  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  where  he  died 
November  23,  1862.  Is  buried  at  No.  10684,  in  the  national  ceme- 
tery at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

JAMES  H.  PEARCY,  aged  twenty-eight,  born  in  Putnam  coun- 
ty, Indiana,  married,  carpenter,  enlisted  from  Mason  City,  111.  His 
health  failed  on  the  Kentucky  campaign  and  he  was  discharged  for 
disability  February  2,  1863.  Is  now  living  in  Burlington,  Coffey 
county,  Kansas. 

STERLING  PELHAM,  aged  thirty-five,  married,  farmer,  en- 
listed from  Mason  county,  and  served  with  his  company  until  cap- 
tured at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  was 
held  in  rebel  prisons  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  June  17,  1865.  Reported  dead  by  pension  office. 

EBENEZER  PAUL,  aged  thirty-five,  born  in  Brown  county, 
Ohio,  married,  shoemaker,  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  Illinois, 
was  left  in  the  hospital  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  where  he  died 
November  14,  1862. 

JAMES  C.  PATTERSON  (promoted  assistant  surgeon.  See 
field  and  staff). 

CHARLES  E.  QUANCE,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Mason  county,  Illinois.  He 
served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  for 
disability  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  January,  1863.  Is  supposed  to 
be  living  at  Angola,  Steuben  county,  Indiana. 

GEORGE  W.  REYNOLDS,  aged  eighteen,  born  in  Bedford 
county,  Pennsylvania,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  Illi- 
nois, served  on  the  Kentucky  campaign  until  sent  to  the  hospital 
at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  where  he  died  November  14,  1862. 

HIRAM  RAMSEY,  aged  eighteen,  farmer,  born  in  Green 
county,  Ohio,  enlisted  from  Mason  City,  111.,  served  with  his  com- 
pany until  failing  health  sent  him  to  the  hospital  at  Bowling 
Green,  Ky.,  where  he  died  in  December,  1862.  His  remains  are 
buried  at  No.  10859  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 


390  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

AARON  RITTER  was  born  in  Lewisburg,  Union  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, June  21,  1842,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1861,  and  enlisted  as 
a  farmer  from  Mason  county.  He  served  with  his  company  until 
wounded  and  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia, 
July  19,  1864.  He  was  held  in  rebel  prisons  until  April  26,  1865, 
when  he  made  his  escape,  rejoined  his  company,  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  He  resides  at  428  West  Harrison  street, 
Chicago,  111. 

WILLIAM  B.  SHORT,  aged  eighteen,  born  in  and  enlisted  from 
Mason  county,  Illinois,  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign, 
and  was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  corps  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  September  16,  1863.  Report  says  he  died  in  the  service. 

ORLANDO  STEWART,  aged  eighteen,  born  in  Greene  county, 
Illinois,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  served  with  his  com- 
pany until  killed  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862. 
His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  252,  in  the  national  cemetery  at 
Camp  Nelson,  Ky. 

JOHN  STUBBLEFIELD,  aged  twenty-two,  born  in  Bond  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  served  with  his 
company  until  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia, 
July  19,  1864,  was  held  in  rebel  prisons  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  honorably  discharged  June  17,  1865.  He  returned  to  Illinois, 
resumed  farming  and  died  in  Menard  county,  in  about  1880. 

HENRY  SHAY,  aged  thirty,  born  in  Dublin,  Ireland,  emigrated 
to  Illinois,  and  was  single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  county.  He  served  with  his  company  until  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862.  His  remains  are  buried 
at  No.  255,  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky. 

WILLIAM  SMITH,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  England,  was  a 
farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  Illinois.  His  health 
failed  and  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky., 
where  he  died  December  19,  1862. 

ARCHIBALD  J.  STUBBLEFIELD,  aged  twenty-two,  born  in 
Bond  county,  Illinois,  single,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Logan  county. 
His  health  failed  on  the  Kentucky  campaign  and  he  was  sent  to 
the  hospital  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  where  he  died  November  30, 
1862.  Is  buried  at  No.  10634,  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  C.  391 

WILLIAM  A.  TYRRELL  was  born  in  Litchfield,  Litchfield 
county,  Connecticut,  February  5,  1844,  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Illinois  in  1856,  and  enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  served 
with  his  company  until  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek, 
Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  and  was  held  in  Andersonville  and  other 
rebel  prisons  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  honorably  dis- 
charged June  17,  1865,  and  returned  to  Mason  City,  111.,  where  he 
now  resides. 

JONATHAN  P.  TEMPLE,  aged  twenty-four,  'born  in  St.  Law- 
rence county,  New  York,  removed  to  Illinois,  married,  farmer,  ar.d 
enlisted  from  Mason  county.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Perry ville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862,  and  transferred  to  the  Veteran 
Reserve  corps,  August  10,  1864,  returned  to  Illinois  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  but  is  supposed  to  be  living  in  Minnesota. 

JOHN  H.  TOMLIN,  aged  thirty-one,  born  in  New  Jersey,  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  county.  He  served  with  his  company  until  killed  at  the 
assault  on  Kennesaw  mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864. 

MARCELLUS  A.  WHIP,  aged  twenty-five,  born  in  Tazewell 
county,  Illinois,  married,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Mason  county, 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  but  was  absent  (sick)  at  the  muster 
out  of  the  regiment.  He  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  hos- 
pital at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  May  26,  1865. 

JEREMIAH  WAGONER  was  born  in  Sangamon  county,  111.,  in 
1839,  and  was  a  married  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason 
county.  He  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree 
creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  but  served  to  the  close  of  the  war 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois, 
resumed  farming,  and  resides  at  Mason  City,  111. 

THOMAS  M.  YOUNG,  aged  forty-four,  born  in  Brown  county, 
Ohio,  single,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  Illinois.  He 
served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  His  left  leg  was  broken 
and  a  part  of  his  left  hand  was  shot  away.  He  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy  and  died  at  Macon,  Ga.,  August  2,  1864. 

THOMAS  P.  YOUNG,  aged  eighteen,  single,  fanner,  born  in 
Bedford  county,  Virginia,  and  enlisted  from  Mason  City,  111.  He 
was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  corps,  returned  to  Illinois 
at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  died  at  Mason  City,  in  about  1870. 


392  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

JAMBS  K.  YOUNG,  aged  twenty-seven,  born  in  Brown  county, 
Ohio,  married,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Mason  county,  Illinois,  and 
served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  in  the  assault  on 
Kennesaw  mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  He  was  removed  to 
the  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  died  July  17,  1864.  Is 
buried  at  No.  13657,  in  the  national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

HENRY  G.  YARDLBY,  aged  twenty-two,  born  and  enlisted  in 
Mason  county,  farmer,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  his  former  home, 
resumed  farming,  and  died  near  Kilbourne,  111.,  in  March,  1900. 

JOSEPH  DUNN  was  born  in  New  York  City,  in  1844,  removed 
to  Illinois,  was  a  farmer  and  enlisted  from  Peoria  county.  He 
served  with  his  company  until  killed  at  the  battle  of  Buzzard 
Roost,  Georgia,  February  25,  1864.  His  remains  are  buried  at 
No.  10155.  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 


SKETCH  OF  COMPANY  D.  393 


CHAPTER  XXX. 


Company  D  was  enrolled  'by  Dr.  Charles  W.  Hough- 
ton,  residing  at  Bath,  in  Mason  county,  and  was  re- 
cruited between  July  18  and  August  8,  1862.  At  the 
organization  of  the  company  the  following  commis- 
sioned officers  were  elected:  Charles  W.  Houghton, 
captain;  Comfort  H.  Ramon,  first  lieutenant,  and 
Charles  H.  Chatfield,  second  lieutenant. 

This  company  was  mustered  in  with  95  officers  and 
men,  of  whom  5  were  killed  in  action,  3  died  of  wounds, 
i  was  accidentally  killed  and  15  received  wounds  in  bat- 
tle which  did  not  prove  fatal  while  in  the  service,  13  died 
of  disease,  22  were  discharged  for  disability,  i  was  trans- 
ferred, and  40  officers  and  men  were  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment. 

Under  the  careful  training  of  Lieutenant  Chatfield 
this  company  became  very  proficient  in  the  skirmish 
drill,  and  upon  all  occasions  performed  its  duty  with  zeal 
and  energy.  The  following  is 

THE   COMPANY  ROSTER. 

CAPTAIN  CHARLES  W.  HOUGHTON,  aged  twenty-six,  born 
in  Menard  county,  Illinois,  physician,  enlisted  from  Bath,  was 
elected  captain  at  the  reorganization  of  the  company,  served 
through  the  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  campaigns,  but  at  Chatta- 
nooga his  health  failed  and  he  resigned  December  27,  1863.  Re- 
turning home,  he  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  Easton, 
111.,  where  he  died  in  about  1890. 

CAPTAIN  CHARLES  H.  CHATFIELD  was  born  in  Middlefield,. 
Geauga  county,  Ohio,  October  3,  1840,  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois  in  1843,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Mason  county.  After 
making  a  trip  to  Pike's  Peak,  in  1859,  he  settled  near  Fort  Scott* 

24 


394  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

Kansas,  and  served  six  months  in  the  Border  War.  He  returned 
to  Illinois  in  1860,  and  was  a  clerk  in  Bath  when  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  May  25, 1861,  in  Company  K,  Seventeenth  Illinois  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  was  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Donel- 
son,  February  13,  1862.  He  was  discharged  on  account  of  wounds 
June  15,  1862,  returned  to  Bath,  and  assisted  in  recruiting  Com- 
pany D,  and  was  elected  second  lieutenant  at  the  organization  of 
the  company.  He  was  a  splendid  drillmaster  and  was  filled  with 
soldierly  pride.  General  Sheridan  once  said  to  Colonel  Moore, 
"You  must  hold  that  young  lieutenant  back — he  is  too  anxious  for 
a  fight."  He  was  promoted  first  lieutenant  December  21,  1862, 
and  to  be  captain  December  27, 1863.  He  commanded  his  company 
from  the  latter  date,  until  killed  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw 
mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No. 
2331,  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  COMFORT  H.  RAMON,  aged  thirty- 
three,  born  in  Mason  county,  Illinois,  married,  farmer,  when  he 
enlisted  from  Bath.  He  was  elected  first  lieutenant  at  the  organ- 
ization of  the  company,  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign, 
and  resigned  December  27,  1862.  He  returned  to  Illinois,  resumed 
farming  near  Kilbourne,  in  Mason  county,  where  he  died  soon 
after  the  close  of  the  war. 

CAPTAIN  SAMUEL  YOUNG,  aged  forty,  born  in  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Mason 
county,  enlisted  from  Bath,  and  was  chosen  first  sergeant  at  the 
organization  of  the  company.  He  was  promoted  first  lieutenant 
December  27,  1863,  and  captain  June  27,  1864.  He  commanded 
the  company  on  the  Atlanta  campaign  after  the  death  of  Captain 
Chatfield,  and  on  the  march  to  the  sea,  until  his  health  failed.  He 
died  near  Milledgeville,  Ga.,  November  23,  1864. 

CAPTAIN  THOMAS  F.  PATTERSON,  aged  twenty,  born  in 
Jacksonville,  111.,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Bath  as  a  private,  was  pro- 
moted first  lieutenant  June  27,  1864,  and  to  be  captain  November 
23,  1864.  He  commanded  the  company  to  the  close  of  the  war  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Is  supposed  to  be  living  at 
Jacksonville,  111. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  FRANCIS  S.  COGESHALL  was  born  in 
Cass  county,  Illinois,  December  21,  1840,  and  was  a  farmer  when 
he  enlisted  from  Bath.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  company,  and  was  promoted  first  lieutenant  November 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  D.  395 

23,  1864,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  He  removed  to  South  Dakota  in  1885,  and  served 
two  terms  as  county  treasurer  of  Jerauld  county,  removed  to  Min- 
nesota in  1899,  and  is  now  farming  near  Fulda,  Murray  county, 
Minnesota. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  W.  TURNER,  aged  twen- 
ty-eight, born  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois,  was 
married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Bath.  He  was 
chosen  sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the  company,  and  was  pro- 
moted second  lieutenant  December  21,  1862,  served  with  the  com- 
pany until  March  30,  1864,  when  he  resigned  and  returned  home. 

SERGEANT  FREMAN  BROUGHT,  aged  twenty-three,  born  in 
Ohio,  single,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Bath,  111.,  was  chosen  sergeant 
at  the  organization  of  the  company,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862.  Is  buried  at  No.  272,  in  the 
national  cemetery  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky. 

SERGEANT  URIAH  B.  LINDSEY,  aged  thirty-three,  born  in 
Cass  county,  Illinois,  married,  carpenter,  enlisted  from  Bath,  was 
chosen  sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the  company,  and  was 
transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  corps  September  1,  1863.  At 
the  close  of  his  service  he  returned  to  Bath,  111.,  where  he  died 
February  28,  1898. 

SERGEANT  MILES  McCABE,  aged  thirty-one,  born  in  Musk- 
ingum  county,  Ohio,  married,  carpenter,  enlisted  from  Bath,  111., 
was  chosen  sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the  company,  served 
until  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19, 
1864.  He  was  taken  from  the  field  to  the  third  division  hospital, 
thence  sent  to  hospitals  from  which  he  was  discharged  for  disa- 
bility arising  from  his  wounds,  February  21,  1865. 

SERGEANT  JOHN  R.  NEVILL  was  born  in  Hart  county,  Ken- 
tucky, January  28,  1828,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1855,  married,  far- 
mer, enlisted  from  Bath,  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization 
of  the  company,  promoted  sergeant  in  May,  1863,  served  to  the 
close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He 
removed  to  Kansas  in  1S83,  and  settled  in  Anderson  county.  He 
is  a  carpenter  and  resides  at  Kincaid,  Anderson  county,  Kansas. 

SERGEANT  JOHN  C.  WILSON  was  born  in  Trumbull  county, 
Ohio,  May  3,  1832,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1849  and 


396  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

settled  on  a  farm  in  Mason  county;  enlisted  from  Bath  and  was 
chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  company,  promoted 
sergeant  March  25,  1863,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to  Nebraska  and 
engaged  in  farming  in  Johnson  county.  His  address  is  Elk  Creek, 
Johnson  county,  Nebraska. 

SERGEANT  GEORGE  O.  CARLOCK  was  born  in  Fulton  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  November  14,  1839,  and  was  single  and  a  farmer  when 
he  enlisted  from  Bath.  Was  promoted  sergeant  and  served  to  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He 
returned  to  Mason  county  at  the  close  of  the  war;  is  a  farmer  and 
carpenter,  and  resides  at  Bath,  111. 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  YOUNG,  aged  thirty,  born  in  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois,  was  married  and  a  farmer  when 
he  enlisted  from  Bath.  He  was  promoted  sergeant,  served  to  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Re- 
sides at  Rantoul,  Champaign  county,  Illinois. 

SERGEANT  JAMES  H.  SEAY,  aged  thirty,  was  born  in  Ten- 
nessee, and  was  a  married  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Bath, 
111.  He  was  promoted  sergeant;  served  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois 
and  died  at  Petersburg  in  Menard  county,  May  6,  1886. 

CORPORAL  THOMAS  J.  MOSELY,  aged  twenty-three,  born  in 
Cass  county,  Illinois,  single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Bath.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  Is  residing  in  Chicago,  111. 

CORPORAL  JAMES  FERRELL,  aged  thirty-two,  born  in  Erie 
county,  New  York,  removed  to  Illinois,  was  married  and  a  farmer 
when  he  enlisted  from  Bath.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Upon  his  return  home 
he  resumed  farming,  and  died  near  Bath,  111.,  in  about  1880. 

CORPORAL  HENRY  O.  REEDER,  aged  thirty,  born  in  Ten- 
nessee, removed  to  Illinois,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when 
he  enlisted  from  Bath.  He  was  discharged  for  disability,  January 
15,  1863;  returned  to  Illinois,  and  died  near  Mason  City  April  15, 
1877. 

CORPORAL  JOHN  O'BRIEN,  aged  twenty-five,  born  in  Can- 
ada East,  removed  to  Illinois  and  was  a  married  farmer  when  he 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  D.  397 

enlisted  from  Bath.    He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.    Is  reported  dead. 

CORPORAL  JOSEPH  B.  CONOVER,  the  youngest  son  of  Major 
William  H.  Conover  and  Rebecca  Hopkins,  was  born  in  Mason 
county,  Illinois,  September  28,  1844.  His  parents  both  died  while 
he  was  quite  young,  but  his  father  left  a  legacy  of  loyalty  to  his 
country.  A  few  days  before  his  death  he  said  to  an  elder  brother, 
"The  fire-eaters  of  the  South  will  force  the  North  to  war  over  the 
question  of  slavery,  and  I  hope  in  the  event  of  war  that  my  sons 
will  stand  by  our  country  and  its  flag."  This  Joseph  never  forgot, 
and  as  soon  as  old  enough  he  enlisted  from  Bath.  He  was  pro- 
moted corporal,  served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded 
in  the  right  arm  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July 
19,  1864.  He  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  had  his  right  arm 
amputated,  was  parolled  November  20,  1864,  and  honorably  dis- 
charged in  February,  1865.  He  returned  to  Illinois  and  was  elected 
county  treasurer  of  Mason  county  in  1869,  serving  one  term  of  four 
years.  He  is  a  grain  dealer  and  resides  at  Kilbourne,  111. 

CORPORAL  WILLIAM  H.  CASTLEBERRY  was  born  in  Cen- 
tralia,  Marion  county,  Illinois,  July  18,  1841,  and  was  married  and 
a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Havana.  He  was  promoted  cor- 
poral, served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory in  1894,  and  is  engaged  in  farming  in  the  Chickasaw  Nation. 
His  postoffice  address  is  Rush  Springs,  I.  T. 

CORPORAL  JAMES  GOBON,  aged  twenty-one,  born  near 
Chandlerville,  in  Cass  county,  Illinois,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he 
enlisted  from  Bath.  He  was  promoted  corporal,  served  with  his 
company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  He  is  farming  near  Kilbourne,  Mason  county,  Illinois. 

CORPORAL  JOHN  L.  PHELPS  was  born  in  Virginia,  Cass 
county,  Illinois,  May  26,  1840,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted 
from  Bath.  He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to  Ne- 
braska in  1870,  and  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Cadam  in  Nuck- 
olls  county. 

CORPORAL  JAMES  S.  ROCHESTER,  aged  nineteen,  born  in 
Mason  county,  Illinois,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 


398  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

Bath.    He  was  promoted  corporal,  served  with  his  company  to 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

CORPORAL  WILLIAM  P.  STITH  was  born  in  Adair  county, 
Kentucky,  August  13,  1838,  and  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois in  1839.  He  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Petersburg, 
served  with  his  company  until  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve 
corps  September  1,  1863,  and  in  this  organization  he  served  at 
Elmira,  N.  Y.,  Chicago  and  Rock  Island,  111.,  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  was  honorably  discharged  at  Chicago  July  1,  1865.  He 
has  been  postmaster  at  Oakford,  111.,  and  at  present  is  keeping  a 
restaurant  and  confectionary  at  Peoria,  111. 

CORPORAL  VAN  TURNER,  aged  twenty-two,  born  in  Morgan 
county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Bath.  He  was  pro- 
moted corporal,  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  became  a  physician 
after  the  war,  and  is  supposed  to  have  died  in  Indiana. 

MUSICIAN  CHARLES  L.  HAMILTON,  aged  twenty,  born  in 
Virginia,  Cass  county,  Illinois,  and  was  a  clerk  when  he  enlisted 
from  Bath.  Was  appointed  musician  at  the  organization  of  the 
company,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged May  18,  1865. 

MUSICIAN  FRANCIS  M.  BERRY,  aged  twenty-four,  born  in 
Jacksonville,  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  and  was  a  clerk  when  he 
enlisted  from  Bath.  He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of 
the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  is  a  brick 
layer  and  is  living  in  Peoria,  111. 

WAGONER  ANDREW  J.  ALLEN,  aged  thirty-four,  born  in 
Tennessee,  enlisted  from  Bath,  Illinois,  and  was  appointed  wag- 
oner at  the  organization  of  the  company.  He  served  to  the  close 
of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  removed 
to  Iowa  and  for  a  time  lived  in  Council  Bluffs,  but  removed  to 
Grove,  Shelby  county,  where  he  died  May  1,  1895. 

THOMAS  J.  AVERY  (promoted  commissiary  sergeant.  See 
field  and  staff). 

HENRY  BEAL,  aged  twenty,  born  in  Schuylkill,  Schuylkill 
county,  Pennsylvania,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Bath. 
He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois  and  resumed  farming  in  McLean 
county,  where  he  died  in  about  1880. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  D.  399 

CLINTON  BLACK,  aged  twenty-two,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Bath.  Served  with  his  company 
through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged 
until  severely  wounded  in  the  fight  at  Buzzard  Roost,  Georgia, 
February  25,  1864.  He  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  where  he  was  dis- 
charged for  disability  November  1,  1864.  He  is  farming  near 
Turon,  Reno  county,  Kansas. 

NORMAN  A.  BULLARD,  aged  thirty-five,  born  in  Yates,  Or- 
leans county,  New  York,  farmer,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  was 
single  when  he  enlisted  from  Bath,  in  Mason  county.  He  served 
to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
He  returned  to  Illinois,  but  later  removed  to  Kansas,  where  the 
writer  met  him  some  twenty  years  ago.  Pension  office  reports 
him  dead  since  March  22,  1899. 

HENRY  W.  CASTLEBERRY,  aged  twenty-four,  born  in  Cass 
county,  Illinois,  married,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Havana,  was  dis- 
charged for  disability  October  15,  1862.  Moved  to  Texas. 

JOSEPH  CADY,  aged  twenty-three,  born  in  Washington  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  removed  to  Illinois,  single,  farmer,  enlisted  from 
Bath,  and  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  January  4,  1863.  Is  buried  at 
No.  1584  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Cave  Hill  near  that  city. 

ASERIA  CAPPER,  aged  twenty-three,  born  in  Cass  county, 
Illinois,  was  single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Bath.  He 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  but  was  sick  in  the  hospital  at 
Quincy,  111.,  when  the  regiment  was  mustered  out.  No  further 
record  has  been  found. 

WILLIAM  D.  CLOSE  was  born  in  Mason  county,  Illinois,  Sep- 
tember 11,  1845,  and  enlisted  from  Bath.  Served  with  his  company 
through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged 
until  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  September  1,  1864,  in  which  he 
was  twice  wounded;  was  honorably  discharged  May  16,  1865.  He 
returned  to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  farming  until  1868,  when  he 
removed  to  Carroll  county,  Missouri,  where  he  resided  until  1880. 
He  then  removed  to  Washington  territory,  was  justice  of  the 
peace,  deputy  sheriff  for  eight  years,  and  treasurer  of  Cowlitz 
county  for  one  term.  He  removed  to  Oklahoma  in  1893,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  stock  raising;  has  been  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  was  elected  county  treasurer  of  Woods  county  at  the  general 
election  in  1900.  He  resides  at  Forest,  Woods  county,  Oklahoma. 


400  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

ROBERT  CASSENS  was  born  in  Friedburg,  Hanover,  Ger- 
many, March  24,  1831,  and  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1856;  was  mar- 
ried and  a  blacksmith  when  he  enlisted  from  Bath,  in  Mason 
county.  He  served  with  his  company  until  detailed  as  blacksmith 
at  brigade  headquarters  in  October,  1863,  and  served  in  that  capac- 
ity until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  mustered  out  with  ihs 
regiment.  He  removed  to  Nebraska  in  1869  and  to  Colorado  in 
1893.  He  resides  at  Bolton,  Arapahoe  county,  Colorado. 

JACOB  S.  DEW  was  born  in  Bath,  Mason  county,  Illinois,  No- 
vember 10,  1841,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  his 
native  town.  He  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Jonesboro, 
Ga.,  September  1,  1864;  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the 
war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to 
Nebraska  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Johnson  county  in  1866;  has 
been  a  merchant,  county  clerk,  clerk  of  the  district  court  and  has 
represented  his  county  in  the  legislature  three  terms.  He  resides 
at  Tecumseh,  Johnson  county,  Nebraska. 

EDWIN  M.  DURHAM  (promoted  quartermaster  sergeant.  See 
field  and  staff). 

NOAH  DAVIS  was  born  in  Highland  county,  Ohio,  in  1831,  and 
enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Bath,  Mason  county,  Illinois.  He 
served  with  his  company  until  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach 
Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  and  when  able  to  travel  he  was 
given  a  furlough,  but  was  killed  in  a  railroad  accident  at  LaFay- 
ette.  Ind.,  in  November,  1864,  while  on  his  way  home.  His  re- 
mains were  brought  home  and  interred  in  Fairview  cemetery. 

WILLIAM  DAVIS  was  born  in  Highland  county,  Ohio,  Novem- 
ber 12,  1835,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Bath,  111.  He  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862,  but 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  honorably  discharged  from 
Springfield,  111.,  in  June,  1865.  He  removed  to  Missouri  in  1872 
and  improved  two  farms.  In  1889  he  removed  to  Kansas  and  was 
engaged  in  farming  some  five  years,  and  in  1894  he  settled  on  a 
claim  near  Medferd,  Grant  county,  Oklahoma,  where  he  now  re- 
sides. He  married  Mary  E.  Bales  in  January,  1860;  has  a  family 
of  seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  married. 

CADMUS  FLORO  was  born  in  Ballard  county,  Kentucky,  and 
was  a  farmer  in  Mason  county,  Illinois,  when  he  enlisted  from 
Bath.  He  served  with  his  company  until  killed  at  the  battle  of 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  D.  401 

Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.     Is  buried  at  No.  7923 
in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

ALLEN  GOBON,  aged  twenty-four,  born  in  Ohio,  married,  far- 
mer, enlisted  from  Bath,  111.;  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Supposed  to  be  living  at 
Durand,  Pepin  county,  Wisconsin. 

SAMUEL  B.  GRISSOM,  aged  twenty-three,  born  at  Columbia, 
Adair  county,  Kentucky,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1857,  enlisted  from 
Bath,  111.,  single,  farmer.  Served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Is  a  farmer  and  resides  near 
Kilbourne,  Mason  county,  Illinois. 

WILLARD  HICKS,  aged  forty-five,  born  in  New  York,  was  sin- 
gle and  a  farmer  in  Mason  county  when  he  enlisted  from  Bath,  111. 
He  served  with  his  company  until  captured  at  the  battle  of  Chick- 
amauga,  Ga.,  September  19,  1863.  Died  in  Andersonville  prison 
May  15,  1864.  Is  buried  at  No.  1102  in  the  national  cemetery  at 
that  place. 

JOHN  HAZELRIGG  (promoted  principal  musician.  See  field 
and  staff). 

JOHN  L.  HARBERT,  aged  twenty-two,  born  in  Green  county, 
Kentucky,  married,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Bath,  111.  He  served  to 
the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He 
returned  to  Mason  county,  resumed  farming  and  now  resides  near 
Kilbourne,  111. 

ALBERT  J.  HAMILTON,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  Nicholas 
county,  Kentucky,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Bath,  111.  Served  with 
his  company  until  failing  health  sent  him  to  the  hospital  at  Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn., 'where  he  died  October  11,  1863.  Is  buried  at  No. 
522  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Chattanooga. 

HENRY  HOWARTH  was  born  in  Blackburn,  Lancaster  county, 
England,  in  1844,  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer 
from  Bath.  He  served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  September  1,  1864,  and  was  honor- 
ably discharged  May  20,  1865.  He  was  accidentally  killed  by  a 
train  in  the  tunnel  at  St.  Louis,  Mo.,  October  9,  1890. 

ELIJAH  HOUGHTON  was  born  in  Cass  county,  Illinois,  in 
1842,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Havana,  111.  He  served  with  his  com- 
pany until  failing  health  sent  him  to  the  hospital  at  or  near  the 


402  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

close  of  the  Atlanta  campaign.  He  died  in  Atlanta,  Ga.,  October 
2,  1864,  and  his  remains  are  buried  at  No.  7732  in  the  national  cem- 
etery at  Marietta,  Ga. 

HENRY  P.  JONES,  aged  eighteen,  farmer,  born  in  Warren, 
county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Havana,  111.  He 
served  with  his  company  until  his  health  failed  at  or  near  the  end 
of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  he  died  in  the  hospital  at  Atlanta, 
Octo'ber  2,  1864.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  7732  in  the  na- 
tional cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

DANIEL  JONES  deserted  November  8,  1862. 

DANIEL  KICER,  aged  forty-five,  born  in  Union  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, single,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Bath,  111.  He  died  at  Louis- 
ville, Ky..  December  4,  1862,  and  his  remains  are  buried  at  No. 
1217  in  Cave  Hill  national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

WILLIAM  KELLEY  was  born  in  Ripley,  Brown  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1840,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Ripley.  He 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. Resides  at  Eagletown,  Hamilton  county,  Indiana. 

ARMSTEAD  KIRK  was  born  in  Anderson  county,  Tennessee, 
in  1844,  removed  to  Illinois  and  enlisted  from  Bath.  He  served  to 
the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He 
died  at  Saidora,  Mason  county,  Illinois,  in  about  1870. 

JAMES  A.  LARANCE  was  born  in  Jacksonville,  Morgan  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  in  1838;  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted 
from  Bath;  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was 
discharged  for  disability  June  3,  1863.  Is  reported  dead. 

ISAAC  LAYMAN  was  born  in  Union  county,  Ohio,  August  13, 
1840,  removed  with  parents  to  Illinois  in  1845,  and  enlisted  from 
Bath.  He  served  with  his  company  until  wounded  in  the  assault 
on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  from  Springfield,  111.,  July  18,  1865.  He  resides  at 
Dewey,  Champaign  county,  Illinois,  where  he  settled  in  1869. 

JOSEPH  LARANCE,  aged  twenty-six,  was  born  in  Morgan 
county,  Illinois,  was  single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Bath.  He  served  until  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek, 
July  19,  1864,  and  was  absent  (sick  in  the  hospital  at  Kingston, 
N.  C.)  at  the  muster  out  of  the  regiment.  He  was  honorably  dis- 
charged (date  unknown),  and  is  reported  dead. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  D.  40S 

GRANVILLE  MADISON  was  born  in  Burksville,  Cumberland 
county,  Kentucky,  July  16,  1836,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1854,  and 
enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Bath.  Served  to  the  close  of  the  war 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to  Ne- 
braska in  1871,  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Gage  county.  Now  re- 
sides at  Blue  Springs,  Neb. 

MILTON  M.  McDONALD,  aged  twenty-two,  born  in  McDon- 
ough  county,  Illinois,  single,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Macomb.  He 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. Is  supposed  to  be  living  at  Macomb,  111. 

HENRY  MEADS  deserted  October  6,  1862. 

HUGH  MORGAN  was  born  in  Liverpool,  England,  in  1844,  and 
enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Havana,  111.  He  served  with  his  com- 
pany until  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Kennesaw  Mountain, 
Georgia,  June  27,  1864;  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.,  where  he  died  July  2,  1864.  Is  buried  at  No.  11847  in  the 
national  cemetery  on  Orchard  Knob. 

JAMES  S.  MYERS  was  born  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  Febru- 
ary 26,  1839,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1857,  married  and  a  farmer 
when  he  enlisted  from  Bath;  served  with  his  company  to  the  close 
of  the  "war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  removed 
to  Kansas  in  1869;  is  farming  and  resides  at  Pittsburg,  Crawford 
county. 

JOHN  J.  MURPHY  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1817,  emigrated  to 
Illinois;  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Bath. 
He  served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  in  the  assault 
on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  He  died  of 
wounds,  proba'bly  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  July  7,  1864. 

WILLIAM  H.  MORGAN  was  born  in  Port  Madoc,  North  Wales, 
December  4,  1840,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1859,  and  enlisted  as  a 
farmer  from  Havana.  He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of 
the  war;  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Moun- 
tain, Georgia,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  re- 
moved to  Texas  in  1869,  and  engaged  in  farming.  Is  now  a  mer- 
chant and  resides  at  Sweet  Home,  Lavaca  county,  Texas. 

HAROLD  MATTISON  deserted  November  28,  1862. 

ROBERT  NEIDER  was  born  in  Germany  in  1840,  emigrated  to 
Illinois,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Bath.  He  served  with  his 


404  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

company  until  wounded  and  captured  at  the  battle  of  Chicka- 
mauga,  Ga.,  September  19,  1863.  Was  reported  absent  (sick)  at 
muster  out  of  the  regiment,  but  he  probably  died  in  some  of  the 
rebel  prisons. 

PATRICK  O'ROURK  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1841;  enlisted  as  a 
farmer  from  Bath,  111.  Served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Last  known  address,  Deming. 
Grant  county,  New  Mexico. 

OLIVER  W.  PARKS,  aged  nineteen,  born  in  Pike  county,  Illi- 
nois, farmer;  enlisted  from  Bath.  Served  with  his  company  until 
wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27, 
1864.  He  was  discharged  on  account  of  wounds,  April  4,  1865. 
Two  years  after  his  return  home  irritation,  caused  by  a  piece  of  his 
blouse  which  had  been  carried  into  the  wound,  caused  it  to  break 
out  anew,  causing  his  death  within  a  short  time. 

JOHN  PLASTERS,  aged  twenty-four,  born  in  Cass  county,  Illi- 
nois, married,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Bath;  served  to  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Died  Novem- 
ber 4,  1899. 

JOHN  W.  PRICE,  aged  eighteen,  born  in  Pike  county,  Illinois, 
farmer,  enlisted  from  Bath.  Died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  December 
11,  1862.  Is  buried  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Cave  Hill,  near 
that  city. 

NEWTON  C.  PATTERSON  was  born  in  Bellville,  Belmont 
county,  Ohio,  February  11,  1843,  and  with  his  parents  removed  to 
Illinois  in  1857.  He  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Bath;  served  with 
his  company  until  April,  1864,  when  he  was  detailed  to  drive  the 
brigade  ambulance,  which  duty  he  performed  until  May,  1865.  He 
was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Jonesljoro,  Ga.,  September  1,  1864, 
but  continued  on  duty  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  Upon  his  return  resumed  farming;  has 
been  school  director,  and  resides  at  Mason  City,  111. 

DAVID  B.  PHELPS,  aged  twenty-eight,  born  in  Princeton, 
Bureau  county,  Illinois,  married,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Bath. 
Served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  for 
disability  May  23,  1863.  Is  a  real  estate  dealer  and  resides  in  St. 
Louis.  Mo. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  D.  405 

WILLIAM  H.  RANSOM,  aged  twenty-one,  "born  in  Lynnville, 
Morgan  county,  Illinois,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Bath.  Served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  January  4,  1863. 

NATHANIEL  S.  ROCHESTER,  aged  twenty-three,  born  in 
Greene  county,  Illinois,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Bath;  served  with 
his  company  until  severely  wounded  in  left  arm  in  the  assault  on 
Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  and  was  discharged 
on  account  of  wounds,  June  2,  1865. 

ALANSON  ROBBINS,  aged  twenty-eight,  born  in  Wyandot 
county,  Ohio,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Bath;  served  to  the  close  of 
the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to 
Illinois  and  located  at  Lincoln,  where  he  died  February  8,  1897. 

WILLIAM  RHEINDERS  was  born  near  Ovid,  Cayuga  county, 
New  York,  February  13,  1839,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1857,  single 
and  a  millwright  and  mechanical  engineer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Mason  county.  He  was  wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw 
Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  but  served  to  the  close  of  the 
war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  After  the  war  he 
removed  to  Texas,  where  he  continued  his  occupation  until  com- 
pelled to  retire  from  active  business  by  failing  eyesight.  His  ad- 
dress is  Texarkana,  Texas. 

ELIAS  REEDER,  aged  twenty-five,  born  in  Chicago,  111.,  mar- 
ried and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Bath.  He  served  through 
the  Kentucky  campaign  and  was  discharged  for  disability,  March 
5,  1863.  He  resides  at  Teheran,  Mason  county,  Illinois. 

ROLLIE  RAY,  aged  thirty,  born  in  Mason  county,  Illinois, 
married,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Bath.  Served  through  the  Ken- 
tucky campaign,  was  discharged  for  disability  February  4,  1863, 
and  died  in  Indiana  on  his  way  home. 

ISAAC  STILTS,  aged  nineteen,  born  in  Pike  county,  Illinois, 
farmer;  enlisted  from  Bath.  Served  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign, and  died  May  11,  1863.  Is  buried  at  No.  266  in  the  national 
cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

JOHN  SIZELOVE  was  born  in  Franklin  county,  Indiana, 
March  18,  1845,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1856  with  his  parents  and 
enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Bath.  He  served  with  his  company 
until  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19, 
1864,  and  was  held  in  rebel  prisons  until  the  close  of  the  war, 


406  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

when  he  was  honorably  discharged  from  Springfield,  111.,  July  22, 
1865.  He  removed  to  Washington  Territory  in  1881,  and  engaged 
in  farming  in  Stevens  county;  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Calis- 
pell  in  1890  and  again  in  May,  1900.  His  address  is  Calispell, 
Stevens  county,  Washington. 

JOHN  SCHOLES  was  born  in  Chandlerville,  Cass  county,  Illi- 
nois, January  9,  1844,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Bath.  At  the  battle 
of  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  he  received  a  gun  shot  wound 
through  the  left  shoulder;  recovered,  returned  to  duty,  served  to 
the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He 
settled  on  a  farm  in  Christian  county  in  1870,  and  now  resides 
near  Mt.  Auburn,  111. 

JACOB  SMITH,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in  Lawrence 
county,  Indiana,  enlisted  from  Chandlerville,  111.  On  the  roll  he 
is  marked  absent  (sick)  at  the  muster  out  of  the  regiment,  but  in 
fact  he  was  discharged  for  disability  December  2,  1864. 

FRANCES  M.  SMITH  was  born  in  Hillsborough,  Highland 
county,  Ohio,  September  13,  1831,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois in  1852;  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  Is  a  laborer  and  resides  in  Bloomington,  111. 

MERTON  STELEY,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in  Horace, 
Pa.,  enlisted  from  Bath,  111.,  died  at  Harrodsburg,  Ky.,  December 

,  1862.    Is  buried  at  No.  367  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Camp 

Nelson,  Ky. 

MARTIN  L.  TREADWAY,  aged  eighteen,  born  in  Cass  county, 
Illinois,  clerk,  enlisted  from  Bath;  served  through  the  Kentucky 
campaign,  and  died  February  6,  1863.  Is  buried  at  No.  6461  in  the 
national  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

MARTIN  TROY,  aged  twenty-two,  born  in  Ireland,  emigrated 
to  Illinois,  laborer;  enlisted  from  Bath.  Died  at  Mound  City,  111., 
October  2,  1864.  Is  buried  at  No.  3405,  national  cemetery,  near 
that  city. 

CHARLES  W.  TOLEY,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  Mason  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Bath;  served  through  the  Ken- 
tucky campaign  and  was  discharged  for  disability  February  4, 
1863.  Is  reported  dead. 

WILLIAM  THOMPSON  deserted  August  28,  1862. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  D.  407 

GEORGE  VENLANINGHEM  deserted  December  23,  1862. 

JAMES  H.  WELCH,  aged  nineteen,  born  in  Coshocton  county, 
Ohio,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Bath,  111.;  served  with  his  company 
until  killed  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19, 
1884.  Is  buried  at  No.  1917  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta, 

Georgia. 

• 

IRA  WELCH,  aged  eighteen,  born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio, 
farmer,  enlisted  from  Bath,  111.  Served  through  the  Kentucky 
campaign  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  29,  1862. 

CHRISTOPHER  WHEELER  deserted  September,  1863. 

JAMES  WALLACE,  aged  forty-five,  born  in  Muskingum  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  married,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Bath,  111.  Served  to  the 
close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Died 
near  Easton,  111. 

JACOB  YARDLEY,  born  at  Crane  Creek,  Mason  county,  Illi- 
nois, August  6,  1835,  single,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Havana.  Served 
to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Is  a  farmer  near  Mason  City,  111. 

GREEN  P.  BATTERTON,  recruit;  no  record  of  when  enlisted, 
but  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

GEORGE  W.  PULLING,  recruit,  deserted  February  14,  1863. 


408  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


Company  E  was  the  Menard  county  company  and 
was  enrolled  by  Pleasant  S.  Scott,  of  Petersburg,  under 
date  of  July  17,  1862.  In  this  county  wrere  many  people 
who  had  emigrated  from  Virginia,  Kentucky  and  Ten- 
nessee. These  people  were  hardy,  patriotic  and  brave, 
and  most  of  them  were  strongly  opposed  to  slavery. 
And  these  pioneers  and  their  sons  were  prompt  to  re- 
spond to  the  call  of  the  President  for  additional  troops. 

At  the  organization  of  the  company  the  following 
commissioned  officers  were  elected :  Pleasant  S.  Scott, 
captain ;  Joseph  M.  Plunkett,  first  lieutenant,  and  Abra- 
ham Clary,  second  lieutenant.  At  the  organization  of 
the  regiment  this  company  became  the  color  company. 

The  record  shows  that  the  company  had  3  killed  in 
battle,  5  died  of  wounds,  2  were  accidentally  killed,  12 
died  of  disease,  18  were  discharged  for  disability,  13  were 
wounded  who  lived  to  be  discharged  from  the  service. 
Of  the  81  officers  and  men  who  formed  the  original  com- 
pany but  21  went  home  together  at  the  close  of  the  war. 
Not  so  strong  in  numbers  as  some  of  the  others,  never- 
theless this  company  made  a  record  of  which  all  its  mem- 
bers should  be  proud. 

THE   COMPANY   ROSTER. 

CAPTAIN  PLEASANT  S.  SCOTT  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Virginia,  July  29,  1822,  removed  to  Illinois  in  June,  1857, 
anl  settled  at  Petersburg,  in  Menard  county.  At  the  breaking  out 
of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  he  was  carrying  the  United  States 
mail,  and  began  recruiting  a  company  on  July  17,  1862.  At  the 
organization  of  the  company  he  was  elected  captain,  served  to  the 
close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  At 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  E.  409 

North  Chickamauga,  in  the  fall  of  1863,  he  was  captured  and  sent 
to  Libby  prison  at  Richmond,  Va.,  from  which  he  escaped  after 
some  four  months'  confinement.  After  much  suffering  and  many 
narrow  escapes  from  recapture,  he  reached  the  Union  lines,  and 
rejoined  bis  company  in  the  spring  of  1864.  He  was  wounded  at 
the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  but  soon  recovered 
and  resumed  command  of  his  company.  He  was  promoted  to  be 
major  of  the  regiment  May  19,  1865,  but  the  regiment  was  below 
the  number  which  would  permit  his  muster,  and  he  was  mustered 
out  as  captain.  He  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Illinois,  and  for 
the  last  fifteen  years  he  has  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  is  holding  that  office  at  the  present  time.  His  address  is 
Petersburg,  Menard  county,  Illinois. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  JOSEPH  M.  PLUNKETT,  aged  forty- 
five,  born  in  Concord,  Cabarrus  county,  North  Carolina,  and  en- 
listed from  Petersburg,  111.,  where  he  was  at  the  time  city  mar- 
shal. He  was  elected  first  lieutenant  at  the  organization  of  the 
company;  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  resigned 
December  21,  1862.  He  returned  to  Petersburg,  where  he  died 
in  about  1870. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  HUGH  A.  TRENT,  aged  thirty-one, 
born  in  Petersburg,  Menard  county,  Illinois.  He  was  chosen  ser- 
geant at  the  organization  of  the  company;  served  through  the 
Kentucky  campaign,  was  promoted  first  lieutenant  December  21, 
1862,  and  served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  When  he  re- 
covered so  as  to  be  able  to  travel  he  secured  a  leave  of  absence 
and  returned  home.  He  was  dismissed  from  the  service  on  May 
2,  1865,  for  absence  without  leave,  and,  as  the  writer  is  informed, 
died  from  the  effects  of  his  wounds  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT  ABRAHAM  L.  CLARY  was  born  in 
Petersburg,  Menard  county,  Illinois,  April  20,  1839,  and  was  a 
farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  his  native  town.  He  was  elected 
second  lieutenant  at  the  organization  of  the  company;  served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  resigned  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
January  20,  1863.  He  returned  to  his  former  home;  was  a  clerk 
in  a  dry  goods  store  for  some  sixteen  years,  and  is  at  present  cor- 
oner of  Menard  county.  His  address  is  Petersburg,  111. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT  CLARK  N.  ANDRUS  (promoted  adju- 
tant. See  field  and  staff). 


410  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT  ANDREW  F.  J.  SHACKEY,  aged 
thirty-five,  born  in  Holmesville,  Pike  county,  Mississippi,  married, 
farmer,  enlisted  from  Mason  City,  111.  He  was  chosen  sergeant 
at  the  organization  of  the  company,  was  promoted  to  be  second 
lieutenant  February  23,  1863,  and  served  with  his  company  until 
October  27,  1863,  when  he  resigned  for  disability.  Is  reported  to 
have  died  at  Petersburg,  111.,  in  about  1896. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  JACOB  FAITH  was  born  in  Princeton, 
Indiana,  July  8,  1834,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  was  a  bricklayer 
when  he  enlisted  from  Petersburg.  He  was  chosen  first  sergeant 
at  the  organization  of  the  company;  served  through  the  Kentucky 
and  Murfreesboro  campaigns,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  1863.  Returning  to  Petersburg  he  resumed 
his  trade,  but  later  removed  to  Iowa,  and  located  at  Lenox,  in 
Taylor  county,  where  he  died  November  5,  1891. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  A.  J.  TAYLOR,  aged  thirty,  born  in 
Springfield,  111.,  was  single  and  a  clerk  when  he  enlisted  from 
Petersburg.  He  was  promoted  first  sergeant,  and  served  with 
his  company  until  severely  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree 
creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  was  removed  to  Vining's  Sta- 
tion, where  he  died  of  his  wounds,  July  24,  1864. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  CHARLES  BOCHERT,  aged  thirty-four, 
born  in  Mecklenburg,  Germany,  emigrated  to  Illinois,  was  single 
and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Petersburg.  He  was  pro- 
moted sergeant,  then  first  sergeant,  and  commissioned  first  lieu- 
tenant, but  the  company  was  below  the  number  required  to  per- 
mit his  muster  with  that  rank.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment  as  first  sergeant.  He 
returned  to  Petersburg,  111.,  where'  he  died  November  17,  1893. 

SERGEANT  A.  P.  ARMSTRONG  deserted  October  7,  1862. 

SERGEANT  LEANDER  VEILEIT,  aged  twenty-eight,  born  in 
Delaware,  Delaware  county,  Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois,  married, 
farmer,  enlisted  from  Petersburg.  He  served  through  the  Ken- 
tucky campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  26,  1863. 
Is  buried  at  No.  3S3  in  the  national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  F.  CLARY  was  born  at  Petersburg, 
Menard  county,  Illinois,  March  25,  1828,  was  married  and  a  farmer 
when  he  enlisted  from  his  native  town.  He  was  chosen  corporal 
at  the  organization  of  the  company,  promoted  sergeant,  and  served 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  E.  411 

with  his  company  until  captured  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek, 
Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  was  held  in  rebel  prisons  to  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  Springfield,  111.,  June 
17,  1865.  He  returned  to  his  former  home  and  engaged  in  farming 
for  several  years,  but  removed  to  Kansas  in  1899.  He  now  resides 
at  Empire  City,  Cherokee  county,  Kansas. 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  LEONARD,  aged  twenty-three,  born 
at  Staunton,  Augusta  county,  Virginia,  removed  to  Illinois,  was 
single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Petersburg.  He  was 
promoted  sergeant,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  died  some  time  after  his  return 
to  Petersburg,  111. 

SERGEANT  ENOS  BYERS  was  born  in  Vinton  county,  Ohio, 
in  1844,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Rushville,  Schuyler 
county,  January  19,  1864.  He  was  promoted  sergeant;  served  to 
the  close  of  the  war  and  was  transferred  to  Company  B,  Sixteenth 
Illinois.  He  was  mustered  out  with  that  regiment  July  8,  1865. 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  F.  HOHAMER,  aged  thirty-three,  born 
in  Petersburg,  Menard  county,  Illinois,  married,  farmer,  enlisted 
as  a  private  from  his  native  town;  was  promoted  sergeant,  and 
carried  the  colors  until  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach 
Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  A  gun  shot  through  the  hips 
rendered  him  perfectly  helpless,  and  he  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy  and  died  in  prison,  but  the  date  of  his  death  is  unknown. 

CORPORAL  JAMES  POTTER,  aged  twenty-three,  born  in 
Menard  county,  Illinois,  was  single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted 
from  Petersburg.  He  was  discharged  for  disability,  but  the  record 
does  not  reveal  the  date  or  place.  He  died  March  24,  1897. 

CORPORAL  EZEKIEL  SAMPLE,  aged  thirty-one,  born  in 
Marion,  Crittenden  county,  Kentucky,  was  married  and  a  farmer 
when  he  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  111.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at 
the  organization  of  the  company;  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  but  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned 
to  his  home  at  Petersburg,  where  he  died  February  9,  1898. 

CORPORAL  JAMES  N.  SHEETS,  aged  forty-two,  born  in  Lex- 
ington, Fayette  county,  Kentucky,  removed  to  Illinois,  was  mar- 
ried and  a  mechanic  when  he  enlisted  from  Petersburg.  He  was 
chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  company;  was  severely 


412  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  enemy  July  19,  1864,  and  died  a  few  days  later  in 
Atlanta,  Ga. 

CORPORAL  BOWLING  GREEN,  aged  twenty-seven,  born  in 
Petersburg,  Menard  county,  Illinois,  was  single  and  a  farmer  when 
he  enlisted  from  his  native  town;  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  or- 
ganization of  his  company,  served  with  his  company  until  severely 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864, 
and  died  in  the  hospital  at  Kingston  Ga.,  August  17,  1864.  Is  bur- 
ied at  No.  477  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

CORPORAL  JOHN  GRIFFIN,  aged  forty-one,  born  in  Shaker, 
Logan  county,  Kentucky;  married,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Peters- 
burg, 111.:  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany and  was  discharged  for  disability,  but  the  date  of  his  dis- 
charge does  not  appear  upon  the  record.  He  returned  to  Peters- 
burg, where  he  died  May  23,  1897. 

CORPORAL  JOHN  BARTHOLOMEW  was  reduced  to  the  ranks 
and  deserted  December  28,  1862. 

CORPORAL  JAMES  S.  LYNN  was  born  in  Chandlerville,  Cass 
county,  Illinois,  September  6,  1839,  was  married  and  a  farmer 
when  he  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  was  chosen  corporal  at  the 
organization  of  the  company  and  was  severely  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862.  He  was  discharged  for 
disability  on  account  of  wounds  December  27,  1862,  returned  to 
Illinois,  and  resumed  farming  near  Mason  City,  where  he  now 
resides. 

CORPORAL  GEORGE  TAYLOR,  aged  nineteen,  born  in  Phila- 
delphia, Pa.,  removed  to  Illinois  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from 
Petersburg.  He  was  promoted  to  corporal;  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

CORPORAL  WILLIAM  H.  YOUNG  was  born  in  Louisville,  Ky., 
September  25,  1824,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1832, 
and  was  out  in  the  Mormon  war.  He  was  married  and  a  farmer 
when  he  enlisted  from  Petersburg;  was  promoted  to  corporal; 
served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois,  and  engaged 
in  farming  near  Petersburg,  where  he  now  resides. 

MUSICIAN  WILLIAM  McNEELY,  aged  eighteen,  born  at 
Petersburg,  Menard  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  his  native 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  E.  413 

town;  was  appointed  musician  and  discharged  for  disability,  but 
the  date  of  discharge  nowhere  appears  upon  the  record.  Is  re- 
ported dead. 

MUSICIAN  SAMUEL  HAVENS,  aged  nineteen,  born  at  Wav- 
erly,  Pike  county,  Ohio,  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  111.,  as  musi- 
cian; served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  January  22,  1863.  Is  buried  at  No.  6617  in  the  national 
cemetery  near  that  city. 

WAGONER  WALTER  RANDALL,  aged  thirty-nine,  born  in 
Lexington,  Ky.,  married  and  was  an  engineer  when  he  enlisted 
from  Petersburg,  111.;  was  appointed  wagoner.  Served  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

WILLIAM  F.  ALLEN,  aged  twenty-seven,  born  in  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  was  a  married  farmer  when  he  en- 
listed from  Petersburg.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perry- 
ville,  Ky.,  and  discharged  for  disability  on  account  of  wounds,  but 
date  of  discharge  is  unknown.  He  resides  at  Petersburg,  111. 

DAVID  ARMSTRONG,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  Petersburg, 
Menard  county,  Illinois,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
his  native  town.  He  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Bowling  Green, 
Ky.,  where  he  died  December  5,  1862.  Is  buried  at  No.  10931  in  the 
national  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

DOLING  ARMSTRONG,  aged  thirty-eight,  married,  farmer, 
was  born  in  Petersburg,  Menard  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from 
his  native  town.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  corps. 
The  pension  office  reports  him  dead,  without  date. 

WILLIAM  ATTERBERRY,  aged  thirty-six.  No  further  record. 

HORACE  ARMSTRONG,  aged  twenty-three.  No  record  after 
muster  in. 

JOHN  H.  ARNOLD  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  was  single 
and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Peoria,  111.  He  served  with 
his  company  until  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Ga., 
July  19,  1864,  and  was  discharged  on  account  of  wounds  January 
25,  1865.  He  returned  to  Illinois,  and  died  at  Springfield  in  Octo- 
ber, 1890. 

JOHN  BARNETT,  aged  twenty-two,  born  in  Marion,  Critten- 
den  county,  Kentucky;  married  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 


414  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

Petersburg,  111.  He  served  with  his  company  until  his  health 
failed,  and  died  at  McAffee  Church,  Ga.,  April  20,  1864.  Is  buried 
at  No.  11141  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

CLAYBURN  BARNETT,  aged  eighteen,  born  at  Marion,  Crit- 
tenden  county,  Kentucky,  was  a  farmer  and  enlisted  from  Peters- 
burg, 111.  Served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war; 
returned  to  Illinois,  resumed  farming,  and  died  at  Petersburg, 
January  3,  1890. 

JOHN  BECK,  aged  twenty-eight;  deserted  December  28,  1862. 
PICKETT  CLARY,  aged ;  deserted  December  28,  1862. 

MARTIN  S.  CLARY,  aged  twenty-one,  born  at  Petersburg, 
Menard  county,  Illinois,  farmer;  enlisted  from  his  native  town. 
Served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  Is  said  to  reside  at  Anthony,  Harper  county,  Kansas. 

THOMAS  S.  CLARY  deserted  December  28,  1862. 

ROYAL  A.  CLARY,  aged ,  born  in  Sparta,  White  county, 

Tennessee,  married,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  111.,  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862,  and  was 
discharged  for  disability,  but  no  date  appears  on  the  record.  Died 
at  Petersburg,  111.,  in  about  1896. 

WILLIAM  W.  CARTER  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  111.  Served 
with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  Is  said  to  reside  at  Petersburg,  111. 

WILLIAM  G.  CARTER  was  born  near  Petersburg,  Menard 
county,  Illinois,  April  24,  1836,  and  enlisted  from  his  native  town. 
He  served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois  and  re- 
sumed farming  when  mustered  out,  and  now  resides  at  Peters- 
burg, 111. 

JOHN  COX,  aged  twenty-three,  born  at  Greensburg,  Green 
county,  Kentucky,  single,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  111.; 
died,  but  the  record  fails  to  reveal  the  date  of  his  death. 

GEORGE  COLE,  aged  twenty-nine,  born  in  Stevensburg,  Cul- 
peper  county,  Virginia,  single,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Petersburg, 
111.,  was  discharged  for  disability,  but  the  record  does  not  reveal 
the  date. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  E.  415 

EDWIN  CHAMBERS  deserted;  no  date  given. 

DENNIS  DENVER — Record  furnishes  nothing  beyond  the 
muster-in. 

MICHAEL  EKIS,  aged  eighteen,  farmer,  born  in  Barbour  coun- 
ty, Virginia,  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  111.;  died  at  Bowling  Green, 
Ky.,  November  7,  1862.  Is  buried  at  No.  542  in  the  national  ceme- 
tery at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

WESLEY  FROST,  aged  twenty-six,  married  farmer,  born  in 
Hillsboro.  Montgomery  county,  Illinois;  enlisted  from  Petersburg. 
He  died,  but  neither  place  nor  date  appears  upon  the  record.  Is 
buried  at  No.  313  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

JAMES  FERGUSON  was  born  in  Clinton,  Henry  county,  Mis- 
souri, May  11,  1843,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1845, 
was  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Petersburg  as  a  recruit  March 
10,  1864.  He  served  with  his  company  until  the  regiment  was 
mustered  out,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Company  B,  Sixteenth 
Illinois  infantry.  He  was  mustered  out  with  that  regiment  July  8, 
1865.  He  returned  to  Menard  county  and  is  engaged  in  farming 
near  Petersburg,  111. 

RICHARD  GRIFFIN,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  Petersburg, 
Menard  county,  Illinois,  enlisted  from  his  native  town.  Served 
with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Peach 
Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  was  removed  to  the  hos- 
pital at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  where  he  died  September  17,  1864.  Is 
buried  at  No.  2083,  in  the  national  cemetery  on  Orchard  Knob, 
near  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

JAMES  HINESLEY,  deserted  October  7,  1862. 

STEPHEN  HANKINS,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  Madison,  Jef- 
ferson county,  Indiana,  farmer,  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  111. 
Served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  Is  supposed  to  be  living  in  Jackson- 
ville, 111. 

WILLIAM  JONES,  aged  twenty-four,  born  in  Petersburg,  Men- 
ard county,  Illinois,  farmer,  enlisted  from  his  native  town.  Served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  transferred  to  the  Vet- 
eran Reserve  corps,  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  September  7,  1863.  His 
subsequent  career  is  unknown  to  the  writer. 


416  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

WILLIAM  J.  JONES  appears  to  have  enlisted  from  Petersburg, 
and  to  have  been  mustered  in  and  discharged,  but  no  date  is  given 
of  his  discharge. 

WILLIAM  LEITSON,  aged  twenty-three,  bom  in  Rodenberg, 
Germany,  single,  brickmason;  enlisted  from  Greenview,  Menard 
county,  Illinois.  Served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  resides  at  Petersburg,  111. 

GEORGE  MYERS,  aged  twenty-five.  Nothing  relating  to  this 
soldier  can  be  found  of  record,  except  that  he  enlisted  and  was 
mustered  in. 

JOHN  C.  MILLER,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in  Menard 
county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Petersburg.  He  served  with  his 
company  until  killed  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Geor- 
gia, June  27,  1864.  Is  buried  at  No.  9314  in  the  national  cemetery 
at  Marietta,  Ga. 

RICHARD  McGUIRE  was  born  in  the  city  of  Dublin,  Ireland, 
in  March,  1820,  was  a  sailor  in  early  life,  emigrated  to  Illinois  in 
1844  and  settled  in  Springfield,  where  he  resided  at  enlistment. 
He  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Rome,  Ga.,  but  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. He  returned  to  Springfield,  111.,  where  he  now  resides. 

WILLIAM  A.  MENCE,  aged  21,  born  in  Boonville,  Warwick 
county,  Indiana,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  111.  Died  Oc- 
tober 23,  1862,  probably  at  Harrodsburgh,  Ky.,  as  he  is  buried  at 
No.  307  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Danville,  Ky. 

WILLIAM  E.  MATHEWS  appears  to  have  enlisted  at  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  and  was  discharged  for  disability,  October  7,  1864.  That 
is  all  the  record  discloses  in  his  case. 

ISAAC  MARLIN,  native  of  Tennessee,  enlisted  at  Nashville, 
August  5,  1863.  Served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  when  the 
regiment  was  mustered  out  he  was  transferred  to  Company  B,  Six- 
teenth Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  out  with  that  regiment 
July  8,  1865,  and  when  last  heard  from  resided  at  Murfreesboro, 
Tenn. 

THOMAS  OSTERMAN,  aged  twenty-three,  born  in  Germany, 
farmer,  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  111.  Record  says  died,  but  does 
not  say  when  or  where. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  E.  417 

THOMAS  OWENS,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  Springfield,  San- 
gamon  county,  Illinois,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Petersburg  and 
served  with  his  company  until  killed  in  the  assault  on  the  enemy 
at  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  September  1,  1864. 

WILLIAM  S.  POTTER,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  Bloomington, 
McLean  county,  Illinois,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Petersburg.  Served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign  and  was  accidentally  killed  by  a 
falling  tree  at  White's  bend  on  the  Cumberland  river,  November 
19,  1862.  (See  Chapter  V.) 

JOHN  O.  PAIN,  aged  thirty-three,  born  in  Washington,  Orange 
county,  Vermont,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  111.  Served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  transferred  to  the  Vet- 
eran Reserve  corps  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  No  date  given. 

JAMES  PEARSON,  aged  sixteen,  born  in  Menard  county,  Illi- 
nois; enlisted  from  Petersburg.  Record  says  discharged,  without 
giving  time  or  place. 

ANDREW  ROBINSON,  aged  eighteen,  born  in  Rushville, 
Schuyler  county,  Illinois;  enlisted  from  Petersburg.  Served  with 
his  company  until  severely  wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw 
Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  He  was  discharged  for  disabil- 
ity arising  from  his  wounds,  February  26,  1865.  He  is  reported  to 
be  in  the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Quincy,  111. 

JOHN  L.  ROBINSON  enlisted  as  a  recruit  from  Petersburg, 
January  19,  1864,  and  the  record  says  discharged,  but  neither  time 
nor  place  is  given.  Is  said  to  be  in  the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Quincy, 
Illinois. 

WILLIAM  RAY,  aged  twenty-two,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Chandlerville,  Cass  county,  Illinois;  enlisted  from  Petersburg. 
Served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  accidentally 
killed  by  a  falling  tree  at  White's  bend  on  the  Cumberland  river, 
November  19,  1862.  (See  Chapter  V.) 

CHRISTOPHER  SHUTT,  aged  twenty-two,  farmer,  born  in 
Germany;  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  111.  Died  at  Louisville,  Ky., 
October  7,  1863,  and  is  buried  at  No.  2062  in  the  national  cemetery 
at  Cave  Hill,  Ky. 

JAMES  T.  SEAY  was  born  in  Campbellville,  Taylor  county, 
Kentucky,  March  29,  1842,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois 


418  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

in  1855.  He  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Petersburg. 
Served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  postmaster  at  Loyd,  Men- 
ard  county,  and  while  residing  in  Fulton  county  served  as  consta- 
ble and  school  director.  He  has  been  elected  adjutant  of  the  Regi- 
mental Association  for  eight  successive  years;  is  a  carpenter,  and 
resides  in  Havana,  111. 

HENRY  SUTTON,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  Petersburg,  Men- 
ard  county,  Illinois,  farmer;  enlisted  from  his  native  town.  Served 
until  discharged  for  disability  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  December  1,  1863. 
He  resides  in  Havana,  111. 

FRANK  F.  SCOTT,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
farmer;  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  111.;  was  wounded  at  the  battle 
of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  but  served  with  his 
company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  He  returned  to  Petersburg,  where  he  died  in . 

L.  SPROUSE  deserted.     No  date  given. 

JOHN  W.  SHROEDER,  aged  twenty-eight,  born  in  London, 
England,  single,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  111.  Beyond 
this  the  record  contains  but  the  one  word  "Discharged." 

EPHRAIM  STOUT,  aged  twenty-four,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Farmington,  Saint  Francois  county,  Missouri;  enlisted  from 
Petersburg,  111.  Record  says,  "Died,"  but  no  date  or  place  is  men- 
tioned. 

JAMES  T.  SENTER,  aged  twenty-one,  born  in  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, farmer,  enlisted  from  Petersburg,  and  served  with  his  com- 
pany until  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek, 
Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  was  discharged  for  disability  resulting 
from  wounds,  November  23,  1864,  and  returned  to  Petersburg,  111., 
where  he  now  resides. 

MORRIS  SEAMAN  deserted. 

LEONIDAS  TRAYLOR,  aged  twenty-five,  single,  farmer,  born 
in  Menard  county,  Illinois;  enlisted  from  Petersburg.  Served  with 
his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  Resides  at  Ransom,  Ness  county,  Kansas. 

JAMES  E.  THOMAS,  aged  forty-four,  born  in  Bowling  Green, 
Warren  county,  Kentucky,  married,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Peters- 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  E.  419 

burg,  111.  Was  slightly  wounded  at  the  assault  on  Kennesaw 
Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  and  received  wounds  from  which  he 
died  in  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864. 

GEORGE  WATTERMAN,  aged  twenty-three,  born  in  Freder- 
ick, Frederick  county,  Maryland,  married,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Petersburg,  111.  Served  with  his  company  until  killed  in  the  as- 
sault on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  His  remains 
are  buried  at  No.  9248  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

GEORGE  M.  WEBSTER  deserted,  but  time  and  place  not  men- 
tioned. 

EDWARD  WELSH  appears  to  have  enlisted,  and  to  have  been 
mustered  in.  But  there  the  record  stops. 


420  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 


Company  F  was  enrolled  by  John  Kennedy  at  Pekin, 
Tazewell  county,  between  June  I5th  and  2ist,  1862,  in 
anticipation  of  a  call  for  additional  troops.  This  was 
almost  a  month  earlier  than  the  enrollment  of  any  other 
company  in  the  Eighty-fifth.  Unfortunately  the  enlist- 
ment roll  of  this  company  does  not  always  definitely  fix 
the  birth-place  of  the  men.  At  the  organization  of  the 
company  the  following  commissioned  officers  were 
elected :  John  Kennedy,  captain ;  Robert  A.  Bowman, 
first  lieutenant,  and  Richard  W.  Tenney,  second  lieuten- 
ant. 

During  the  three  years'  service  25  of  the  company 
were  struck  by  bullets  or  shell  in  battle,  9  of  whom  were 
killed,  7  died  of  wounds  and  9  recovered,  4  were  acci- 
dentally killed,  10  died  of  disease,  23  were  discharged,  4 
were  transferred  and  at  the  final  muster  out  there  were 
but  30  present. 

The  company  was  always  bravely  commanded,  and 
never  failed  to  do  its  full  duty  toward  the  preservation  of 
the  nation's  integrity.  The  following  is 

THE   COMPANY  ROSTER. 

CAPTAIN  JOHN  KENNEDY  was  born  in  Tipperary,  County 
Limerick,  Ireland,  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  was  a  boatman  on  the 
Illinois  river,  residing  at  Pekin,  in  Tazewell  county,  when  he  re- 
cruited the  company.  None  questioned  his  ability  to  command, 
and  at  the  organization  of  the  company  he  was  elected  captain. 
As  an  officer  he  was  brave  and  enterprising,  and  led  his  company 
with  more  than  usual  skill.  He  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  as- 
sault on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  but  refused  to  leave  his 
command.  A  few  days  later,  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek, 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  F.  421 

Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  he  was  instantly  killed  by  a  shot  which 
passed  through  his  head.  And  so  he  died,  with  his  face  to  the  foe, 
defending  the  flag  of  his  adopted  country,  beloved  and  regretted 
by  his  associates  of  whatever  rank.  His  remains  are  buried  at 
No.  8332,  in  the  hallowed  ground  of  the  national  cemetery  at  Mari- 
etta, Ga. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  ROBERT  A.  BOWMAN,  aged  forty-two, 
born  in  Genesee  county,  New  York,  was  married  and  a  boatman 
when  he  enlisted  from  Pekin,  111.  He  was  elected  first  lieutenant 
at  the  organization  of  the  company  and  served  with  the  command 
until  during  the  siege  of  Chattanooga,  when  he  resigned  under 
date  of  October  17,  1863,  and  went  home. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  ANDREW  J.  MASON,  aged  thirty- 
seven,  married,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Pekin,  was  chosen  sergeant 
at  the  organization  of  the  company,  and  was  promoted  first  lieu- 
tenant October  17,  1863.  He  was  commissioned  captain  May  27, 
1865,  but  the  company  was  then  too  small  to  allow  his  muster.  He 
commanded  the  company  from  the  death  of  Captain  Kennedy  until 
the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT  RICHARD  W.  TENNEY,  aged 
twenty-one,  single,  clerk;  enlisted  from  Pekin,  was  elected  second 
lieutenant  at  the  organization  of  the  company.  Served  with  his 
company  until  January  13,  1863,  when  he  resigned  and  returned 
to  Pekin,  111.,  where  he  now  resides. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT  EDWIN  D.  LAMPITT,  aged  twenty- 
one,  single;  enlisted  from  Pekin,  was  chosen  first  sergeant  at  the 
organization  of  the  company,  and  promoted  to  be  second  lieuten- 
ant January  13,  1863.  He  resigned  October  10,  1863,  during  the 
siege  of  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  WILLIAM  KELLEY,  aged  thirty-four, 
single,  boatman;  enlisted  from  Pekin,  was  chosen  sergeant  at  the 
organization  of  the  company,  promoted  first  sergeant,  served  with 
his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment. 

SERGEANT  FRANCIS  M.  McCOLGAN  enlisted  from  Pekin, 
single,  farmer,  was  chosen  sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the 
company  and  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant,  but  the  company 
was  below  the  minimum  and  he  was  never  mustered.  He  was  cap- 


422  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

tured,  shot  and  left  for  dead  by  his  inhuman  captors  at  Louisville, 
Ga.,  November  30,  1864,  but  recovered,  served  to  the  close  of  the 
war  and  was  honorably  discharged.  He  resides  at  East  Las  Vegas, 
New  Mexico. 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  JOHNSON,  aged  twenty-six,  single, 
farmer;  enlisted  from  Pekin,  was  chosen  sergeant  at  the  organi- 
zation of  the  company,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment  as  a  private. 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  BELONG,  aged  twenty-four,  single, 
farmer,  enlisted  from  Spring  Bay,  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  or- 
ganization of  the  company,  promoted  sergeant,  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

SERGEANT  JOHN  O'BRIEN  was  born  in  Peoria,  111.,  in  1845, 
and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Princeville,  in  Stark 
county.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany, promoted  sergeant,  served  with  his  company  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  re- 
moved to  Colorado  in  1872  and  engaged  in  the  livery  business  in 
Boulder.  He  served  as  county  assessor,  constable  and  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  city  council.  He  died  January  13,  1892,  leaving  a  widow 
who  resides  at  No.  1479  Pine  street,  Boulder,  Colo. 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  EARP,  aged  thirty-four,  single,  farmer, 
enlisted  from  Pekin,  was  promoted  sergeant,  served  with  his  com- 
pany until  captured  at  Louisville,  Ga.,  November  30,  1864,  and 
shot  down  in  cold  blood  by  his  inhuman  captors.  He  died  during 
the  night. 

SERGEANT  HENRY  AMSLER  was  born  in  Spring  Bay,  Wood- 
ford  county,  Illinois,  December  5,  1838,  was  single  and  a  farmer 
when  he  enlisted  from  his  native  town.  He  was  promoted  ser- 
geant November  30,  1864,  served  with  his  company  until  the  close 
of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned 
to  his  former  home  and  resumed  farming,  but  in  1881  he  removed 
to  Pontiac,  Livingston  county,  Illinois,  where  he  now  resides. 

SERGEANT  DAVID  HAMILTON,  son  of  Jonathan  Hamilton 
and  Harriet  Ro,  was  born  in  Piqua  county,  Ohio,  October  14,  1838, 
and  with  his  parents  removed  to  Iowa  and  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Louisa  county  in  1842.  David  and  his  brother,  Reuben,  were  work- 
ing at  Brimfield,  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  when  they  enlisted.  David 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  F.  423 

was  promoted  to  be  sergeant,  and  served  with  his  company  until 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  September  1,  1864. 

CORPORAL  EDWARD  SCATTERGOOD,  aged  nineteen,  en- 
listed from  Pekin  and  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of 
the  company,  was  color  corporal  and  was  carrying  the  battle  flag 
when  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia, 
July  19,  1864;  fell  into,  the  hands  of  the  enemy  and  died  in  prison 
at  Blackshear,  Ga.,  about  December  1,  1864.  He  was  erroneously 
marked  mustered  out  with  the  regiment,  and  so  appears  in  the 
adjutant  general's  report. 

CORPORAL  NATHAN  KELLOGG,  aged  eighteen,  farmer;  en- 
listed from  Pekin,  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the 
company  and  served  until  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach 
Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy  and  died  at  Griffin,  Ga.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  4249 
in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga.  He,  too,  was  erron- 
eously reported  as  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

CORPORAL  DAVID  STRADFORD,  aged  thirty-five,  single, 
farmer;  enlisted  from  Spring  Bay,  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  or- 
ganization of  the  company.  Served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Is  reported  dead  by  the  pen- 
sion office. 

CORPORAL  GEORGE  DEFORD,  aged  eighteen,  farmer;  en- 
listed from  Princeville,  in  Stark  county,  was  chosen  corporal  at  the 
organization  of  the  company  and  served  until  drowned  in  the  Ten- 
nessee river,  October  19,  1863.  (See  Chapter  XI.) 

CORPORAL  R.  S.  SCRIVENS,  aged  twenty-six,  married,  farm- 
er; enlisted  from  Spring  Bay,  in  Woodford  county,  was  chosen 
corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  company  and  was  discharged 
for  disability,  December  4,  1862. 

CORPORAL  PHILIP  BECK,  aged  nineteen,  farmer;  enlisted 
from  Pekin,  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany and  served  until  killed  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek, 
Georgia,  July  19,  1864. 

CORPORAL  LEVI  CLIFTON  was  born  in  Vermillion  county, 
Indiana,  March  8,  1845,  and  with  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois  in 
1849.  He  enlisted  from  Spring  Bay,  in  Woodford  county,  was  pro- 
moted corporal  and  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Mission 
Ridge.  Served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with 


424  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

the  regiment.  He  removed  to  Nebraska  in  1878  and  settled  in 
Knox  county,  where  he  served  two  terms  as  county  commissioner. 
He  is  now  farming  near  Franklin,  Franklin  county,  Nebraska. 

CORPORAL  WILLIAM  DEAN  was  born  in  Mercer,  Mercer 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  April,  1844,  and  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Illinois  in  1858.  He  was  promoted  to  be  corporal,  was  slightly 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864, 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois 
and  engaged  in  farming,  and  resides  at  M'anito,  Mason  county. 

CORPORAL  JOHN  HODGE  was  born  in  Spring  Bay,  Woodford 
county,  Illinois,  January  2,  1844;  enlisted  from  his  native  town, 
was  promoted  corporal,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  After  final  discharge  he  returned 
to  his  former  home,  where  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  to  the 
present  time.  He  is  at  present  alderman  of  Spring  Bay,  111. 

CORPORAL  GEORGE  PILLSBURY,  aged  twenty-four,  single, 
merchant;  enlisted  from  Pekin,  and  was  born  in  Tazewell  county. 
He  was  promoted  corporal,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  is  an  inmate  of  the  Soldiers' 
Home  at  Quincy,  111. 

CORPORAL  B.  F.  VARNUM,  aged  eighteen,  farmer;  enlisted 
from  Pekin,  was  promoted  corporal  and  was  wounded  in  right 
hand  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864,  but 
continued  to  serve  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

DRUMMER  ABRAHAM  BURT  enlisted  from  Spring  Bay,  Taze- 
well county,  Illinois,  and  was  made  drummer.  Served  through  the 
Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  January  15,  1863.  When  last  heard  from  he  was  re- 
siding in  Peoria,  111. 

WAGONER  JOHN  WOLF,  aged  thirty-three,  single,  mechanic; 
enlisted  from  Pekin  as  wagoner  and  served  in  that  capacity  until 
his  health  failed.  He  was  discharged  at  Jefferson  barracks,  Mis- 
souri, March  6,  1864,  for  disability. 

WILLIAM  BIRD,  aged  nineteen,  miner;  enlisted  from  Pekin. 
Served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  Is  said  to  be  living  at  Scales  Mound,  Jo  Davies  county, 
Illinois. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  F.  425 

JAMES  F.  BURT  was  born  in  Ripley,  Brown  county,  Ohio,  De- 
cember 3,  1845,  and  was  a  farmer  residing  at  Spring  Bay,  Wood- 
ford  county,  Illinois,  when  he  enlisted.  He  was  wounded  in  the 
assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  but  recov- 
ered and  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  Is  a  farmer  and  resides  since  1889  at  Litchfleld, 
Montgomery  county,  Illinois. 

DAVID  BOYER,  aged  twenty-two,  single,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Pekin,  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign  and  was  discharged 
for  disability  January  19,  1863.  Is  said  to  reside  near  Delavan, 
Tazewell  county,  Illinois. 

JOHN  BAGGS,  aged  nineteen,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Spring 
Bay,  Woodford  county,  Illinois.  Served  until  the  close  of  the  war 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  is  supposed  to  be 
living  at  Sparland,  Marshall  county,  Illinois. 

D.  A.  BRANDON,  aged  thirty-five,  single,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Spring  Bay,  Woodford  county,  Illinois,  and  served  with  his  com- 
pany until  killed  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia, 
June  27,  1864.  Is  buried  at  No.  8759  in  the  national  cemetery  at 
Marietta,  Ga. 

P.  D.  CLEVELAND,  aged  thirty-five,  single,  farmer;  enlisted 
from  Pekin.  Served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  but  his 
health  failed  and  he  died  February  4,  1863. 

DAVID  CRAIG,  aged  forty-one,  single,  boatman;  enlisted  from 
Pekin.  Served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  His  death  is  reported  by  the  pension  office 
under  date  of  July  20,  1894. 

JAMES  CAREY,  aged  thirty-eight,  single;  enlisted  from  Pekin. 
Served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  at  Buzzard  Roost, 
Georgia,  February  25,  1864,  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  where  he  died  March  11,  1864.  Is  buried  at  No.  1490  in  the 
national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

JAMES  J.  CHEAL,  aged  ;    enlisted  from  Pekin.     Served 

with  his  company  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  w"as  trans- 
ferred to  the  invalid  corps  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  September  7,  1863, 

JOHN  J.  CLARK,  aged  twenty-five,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Pekin.  Served  with  his  company  until  captured  at  the  battle 
of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864;  was  held  in  various 

26 


426  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

rebel  prisons  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Springfield,  111.,  June  17,  1865. 

JAMES  COMBS,  aged  twenty-one,  single,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Pekin.  Served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  Is  an  inmate  of  the  Soldier's  Home  at  Quincy, 
Illinois. 

ROBERT  DRIVER,  aged  thirty,  married,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Spring  Bay,  and  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  September  29,  1862. 

JOHN  DUBOIS,  aged  nineteen;  enlisted  from  Spring  Bay. 
Served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign  and  was  transferred  to  the 
invalid  corps  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  September  7,  1863. 

WILLIAM  DEFORD,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Spring  Bay.  Served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  18,  1863. 

LEANDER  DEVALL  deserted  October  20,  1862. 

JAMES  FRANK,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Pekin.  No  record  after  muster-in. 

JOSEPH  FORNER,  aged  thirty,  single,  boatman;  enlisted  from 
Pekin.  Served  with  his  company  until  killed  at  Buzzard  Roost, 
Georgia,  February  25,  1864.  He  was  born  in  France. 

NICHOLAS  FULTZ,  born  in  Germany.  Deserted  October  11, 
1862. 

PHILIP  GABRIEL,  aged  eighteen,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Spring  Bay.  Served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

ANDREW  GABRIEL,  aged  twenty-one,  single,  farmer;  enlisted 
from  Spring  Bay.  Served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and 
was  discharged  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  for  disability,  January  20, 
1863. 

HUGH  GEHAGAN,  aged  twenty-nine,  single,  farmer;  enlisted 
from  Spring  Bay;  served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the 
war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  fell  overboard 
just  below  Cincinnati  and  was  drowned  in  the  Ohio  river.  (See 
Chapter  XXV.) 

ROBERT  GRIG  or  GREGG,  aged  thirty-six,  married,  farmer; 
enlisted  from  Spring  Bay.  Served  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  F.  427 

paign  and  was  discharged  for  disability  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March 
31,  1863.     Reported  dead  by  the  pension  office. 

JAMES  HANKS,  aged  twenty-five,  single,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Pekin.  Served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  killed 
by  guerrillas  near  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  9,  1863. 

HASARD  HODGE,  aged  eighteen,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Spring 
Bay.  Served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  for  disability,  January  17,  1863. 

GEORGE  HODGE,  aged  eighteen,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Spring 
Bay.  Served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  June  17,  1863.  Is  buried  at  No.  3546  in  the  national 
cemetery  near  that  city. 

ALEXANDER  HODGE,  aged  eighteen,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Spring  Bay  and  served  with  his  company  until  killed  in  the  assault 
on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864. 

REUBEN  HAMILTON  was  born  in  Piqua  county,  Ohio,  April 
11,  1834,  and  removed  with  his  parents,  Jonathan  Hamilton  and 
Harriet  Ro,  to  Iowa  in  1842  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Louisa 
county.  He  enlisted  from  Brimfield  in  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  and 
served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  wounded  in  the  right  leg  and  left 
thigh  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  but  returned  to 
duty  in  time  for  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  where  his  brother, 
Sergeant  David  Hamilton,  was  killed.  He  is  a  blacksmith,  but 
unable  to  work  at  his  trade,  and  for  several  years  has  been  an  in- 
mate of  the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Quincy,  111. 

HENRY  HENFLING,  aged  twenty,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Spring  Bay.  His  health  failed  early  in  the  Kentucky  campaign, 
and  he  died  at  Harrodsburg,  Ky.,  October  24,  1862. 

F.  S.  HENFLING,  aged  twenty- two,  married,  farmer;  enlisted 
from  Spring  Bay.  Served  in  the  Kentucky  campaign  until  acci- 
dentally wounded  near  Crab  Orchard.  How  the  accident  occurred 
none  ever  knew.  A  gun  was  discharged,  Henfling  was  shot  through 
the  leg  and  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Danville,  where  he  died  Novem- 
ber 1,  1862.  Is  buried  at  No.  80  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Dan- 
ville, Ky. 

AMERICUS  HINSEY,  aged  twenty-two,  single,  farmer;  enlisted 
from  Groveland.  Served  with  his  company  until  severely 


428  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

wounded  in  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864. 
His  left  leg  was  broken  by  a  gun  shot  and  amputated  and  he  was 
discharged  for  wounds  from  the  hospital  at  Chicago,  111.,  soon  after 
the  close  of  the  war.  When  last  heard  from  he  was  an  inmate  of 
the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Dayton,  Ohio. 

LEVI  HORTON  appears  to  have  enlisted  June  21  and  to  have 
been  mustered  in  August  27,  1862,  and  there  the  record  ends  in  his 
case. 

EDWARD  JONES  deserted  December  13,  1862. 

MAURICE  LANDERER,  aged  thirty,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Germany  and  enlisted  from  Peoria.  Served  with  his  company 
until  killed  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19, 
1864. 

CLINTON  LOGAN,  aged  twenty-eight,  single,  farmer;  enlisted 
from  Spring  Bay,  and  served  with  his  company  until  accidentally 
killed  by  a  guard  at  Atlanta,  Ga.,  September  9,  1864.  His  remains 
are  buried  at  No.  1162  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

JAMES  McCABE,  aged  twenty-nine,  single,  boatman;  enlisted 
from  Pekin.  Served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  was  discharged  with  the  regiment.  He  was  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, and  is  reported  to  have  died  December  19,  1888. 

PHILLIP  McCABE  was  born  in  Ireland  October  31,  1845,  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  with  his  parents  in  May,  1857,  and  was  a  farmer 
when  he  enlisted  from  Pekin.  He  served  with  his  company  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He 
is  an  optician  and  resides  at  Delavan,  Tazewell  county,  Illinois. 

JOHN  MALONEY,  aged  twenty-one,  single,  farmer;  enlisted 
from  Pekin.  Served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  January  9,  1863.  Is  buried  at  No.  5957  in  the 
national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

JOHN  McQUIN,  aged  twenty-six,  single,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Pekin.  Served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged May  17,  1865. 

BARNHART  NOBLACK,  aged  twenty,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Spring  Bay  and  served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded 
in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  He 
was  removed  to  the  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  where  he  died 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  F.  429 

September  9, 1864.    Is  buried  at  No.  14175  in  the  national  cemetery 
near  that  city. 

FRED  W.  NEWMAN,  aged  twenty-five,  single,  shoemaker,  born 
in  Germany;  enlisted  from  Spring  Bay,  111.,  and  was  discharged 
for  disability,  November  21,  1862.  He  is  reported  to  have  died 
April  2,  1896. 

JOSEPH  ORANGE,  aged  twenty-three,  single,  farmer,  born  ,in 
Germany  and  enlisted  from  Spring  Bay,  111.  He  served  with  his 
company  until  his  health  failed  and  died  at  McAffee  Church,  Ga., 
March  28,  1864.  Is  buried  at  No.  11140  in  the  national  cemetery 
at  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

OUR  MIKE,  aged  thirty-eight,  single,  farmer,  born  in  Ger- 
many; enlisted  from  Spring  Bay,  111.  Served  through  the  Ken- 
tucky campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  8,  1863. 
His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  6557  in  the  national  cemetery  at 
Nashville,  Tenn. 

WILLIAM  PHILLIPS,  aged  twenty-seven,  single,  farmer;  en- 
listed from  Spring  Bay.  Served  with  his  company  until  the  close 
of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  re- 
ported living  at  Newport,  Jackson  county,  Arkansas,  but  a  letter 
directed  to  that  address  was  returned  unclaimed. 

ISAAC  PHILLIPS,  aged  twenty-nine,  married,  farmer;  enlisted 
from  Spring  Bay  and  was  discharged  for  disability  January  30, 
1863. 

THOMAS  PHILLIPS,  aged  twenty-nine,  married,  farmer;  en- 
listed from  Spring  Bay.  Served  with  his  company  until  the  close 
of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

H.  B.  PARKS,  aged  thirty,  single,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Spring 
Bay  and  was  discharged  for  disability,  January  16,  1863. 

WILLIAM  QUINLIN,  aged  twenty-nine,  single,  farmer;  en- 
listed from  Peoria.  Served  in  the  Kentucky  campaign  until  the 
command  reached  Bowling  Green,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  hos- 
pital. He  was  discharged  for  disability  from  that  place,  May  21, 
1863.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  Ireland,  the  land 
of  his  birth,  and  died  there  October  1,  1894. 

MATTHEW  RILEY,  aged  forty,  single,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Pekin,  and  served  with  his  company  until  killed  in  the  assault  on 


430  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.    He  was  born  In  Ire- 
land; was  of  fine  appearance,  and  made  a  splendid  soldier. 

MARTIN  RYAN,  aged  twenty-five,  married,  farmer;  enlisted 
from  Pekin.  He  deserted  September  8,  1862. 

MICHAEL  RHOADES,  aged  twenty-eight,  married,  farmer;  en- 
listed from  Pekin.  Served  with  his  company  until  drowned  in  the 
Tennessee  river,  October  19,  1863.  (See  Chapter  XI.)  His  re- 
mains were  recovered  and  are  buried  at  No.  11830,  in  the  national 
cemetery  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn. 

WILLIAM  SPILLMAN  was  born  in  Switzerland,  May  14,  1836, 
emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  was  a  farmer  in  Woodford  county  when 
he  enlisted  from  Spring  Bay.  He  served  with  his  company  through 
all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  his  former  home 
at  Spring  Bay  and  resumed  farming.  Has  been  president  of  the 
school  board  for  nine  years,  and  also  served  as  tax  collector.  His 
address  is  Spring  Bay,  Woodford  county,  Illinois. 

HENRY  STALDER,  aged  twenty,  farmer,  born  in  Germany,  and 
enlisted  from  Spring  Bay,  111.  He  died  in  Louisville,  Ky.,  October 
12,  1862. 

JOHN  THOMPSON,  aged  forty-one,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
England,  and  enlisted  from  Pekin,  111.  He  was  discharged  for  dis- 
ability at  Louisville,  Ky.,  March  7,  1863. 

JOEL  F.  TERRY,  aged  eighteen,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Spring 
Bay.  Served  with  his  company  until  captured  at  the  battle  of 
Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia.  He  was  held  in  various  rebel  prisons 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  discharged  June  17, 
1865.  Is  supposed  to  be  living  at  Oronoque,  Norton  county, 
Kansas. 

ANTOINE  TONEY,  aged  forty,  single,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Spring  Bay,  and  after  muster-in,  the  record  is  silent  concerning 
him. 

BENJAMIN  TANGARD,  aged  twenty-four,  married,  farmer; 
enlisted  from  Groveland.  Served  with  his  company  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Is  supposed 
to  be  living  at  Western,  Saline  county,  Nebraska. 

MATTHEW  L.  WRIGLEY  was  born  in  Saybrook,  Middlesex 
county,  Connecticut,  August  9,  1842;  removed  to  Illinois,  and  was 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  F.  431 

a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Pekin,  111.  He  served  with  his 
company  until  captured  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Ga.,  Septem- 
ber 20,  1863;  was  held  in  various  rebel  prisons  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  was  honorably  discharged  July  22,  1865.  He  returned 
to  Illinois,  but  removed  to  Missouri  in  1867,  and  to  Oklahoma  at 
the  opening.  He  has  been  postmaster  at  Alvaretta,  and  is  at  pres- 
ent a  merchant  of  that  place.  His  address  is  Alvaretta,  Woods 
county,  Oklahoma. 

FITZHUGH  WESTNOUR,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer;  enlisted 
from  Peoria,  and  served  with  his  company  until  April  1,  1865,  when 
he  was  transferred  to  the  invalid  corps.  He  was  honorably  dis- 
charged from  that  organization,  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  June  28, 
1865. 

EDWARD  WARNER,  aged  eighteen,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Spring  Bay.  Served  with  his  company  until  near  the  close  of  the 
war,  but  was  sick  in  the  hospital  at  Chicago,  111.,  when  the  regi- 
ment was  mustered  out.  He  was  honorably  discharged  a  few  days 
later. 

W.  WARNER,  aged  thirty- three;  appears  on  the  roll,  but  no 
further  record  has  been  found. 

WILLIAM  WHITNEY,  aged  twenty-four;  enlisted  June  16,  and 
was  mustered  in  August  27,  1862,  but  beyond  these  facts  no  record 
can  be  found. 

ALEXANDER  WOODCOCK,  aged  thirty-three,  married,  farm- 
er; enlisted  from  Spring  Bay,  and  died  at  New  Albany,  Ind.,  Octo- 
ber 11,  1862.  Is  buried  at  No.  1096,  in  the  national  cemetery  near 
that  city. 

G.  H.  WILSON,  aged  twenty-nine;  enlisted  June  21,  and  was 
mustered  in  with  the  regiment,  and  here  the  record  stops. 

JACOB  WHITTAKER,  aged  eighteen,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Pekin,  111.  Served  with  his  company  until  wounded  at  Peach 
Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  recovered  so  as  to  return 
to  duty  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to 
California  and  settled  at  Clear  Creek,  Butte  county,  where  he  died 
several  years  since,  from  the  effects  of  his  wound.  His  remains 
are  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Clear  Creek,  Cal. 

JOHN  BASS,  recruit  supposed  to  have  belonged  to  the  com- 
pany, but  the  record  is  silent  beyond  the  statement  that  he  en- 
listed from  Pekin.  • 


432  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

PHILLIP  BRICKEL,  recruit  that  seems  to  have  belonged  to 
the  company,  and  who  was  transferred  by  order  of  the  secretary 
of  war,  May  18,  1865,  to  Company  C,  Sixteenth  Illinois  infantry, 
and  mustered  out  with  that  regiment  July  8,  1865.  He  is  supposed 
to  be  living  at  Alexandria,  Thayer  county,  Nebraska. 

WILLIAM  EHART,  deserted  on  the  day  he  was  mustered  into 
the  service. 

JAMES  ROSS,  recruit;  no  date  of  enlistment  or  muster.  Killed 
by  guerrillas  near  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  8,  1863. 

JOHN  TURNER,  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  October  12,  1862. 


SKETCH  OF  COMPANY  G.  433 


CHAPTER  XXXIIJ. 


So  many  of  the  young  men  from  the  south  part  of 
Fulton  county  had  entered  the  army  in  1861  that  few 
were  so  sanguine  as  to  expect  that  more  than  one  com- 
pany could  be  raised  in  and  around  Astoria  when  recruit- 
ing began  in  the  summer  of  1862.  But  by  the  middle  of 
August  enough  had  enlisted  to  form  two  full  companies. 

Company  G  was  enrolled  by  the  Hon.  S.  P.  Cum- 
mings  between  the  nth  and  i6th  of  August,  the  nucleus 
of  the  company  being  the  overflow  from  Company  H,  it 
having  been  the  first  organized.  At  the  organization  of 
the  company  the  following  commissioned  officers  were 
elected:  William  McClelland,  captain;  Lafayette  Cur- 
less,  first  lieutenant,  and  John  M.  Robertson,  second 
lieutenant. 

The  record  shows  that  20  of  the  officers  and  men  be- 
longing to  this  company  were  hit  with  shot  or  shell  in 
battle,  8  of  whom  were  killed,  i  died  of  wounds,  while  1 1 
received  wounds  which  did  not  prove  fatal  while  in  the 
service,  9  died  of  disease,  1 1  were  discharged  for  disabil- 
ity, 1 6  were  transferred  and  36  went  home  together 
when  the  regiment  was  disbanded. 

The  company  was  commanded  by  officers  who  were 
brave  and  enterprising,  and,  for  genuine  loyalty  and  de- 
votion to  duty,  Company  G  was  the  peer  of  any  organi- 
zation in  the  service.  While  the  writer  feels  that  his 
heart  is  big  enough  to  take  in  the  whole  of  the  Eighty- 
fifth,  there  will  always  be  a  warm  corner  reserved  for  the 
"boys  of  Company  G."  The  following  is 


434  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

THE   COMPANY   ROSTER. 

CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  McCLELLAND,  aged  thirty-eight,  born 
in  Jefferson  county.  Ohio,  but  for  many  years  had  been  residing  on 
a  farm  near  Astoria,  111.  He  was  active  in  recruiting  the  com- 
pany, and  at  its  organization  was  elected  captain.  He  commanded 
the  company  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  at  the  battle  of 
Perryville,  Ky.,  his  actions  proved  that  he  was  not  lacking  in 
courage.  But  the  hardships  of  the  campaign  which  ended  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  undermined  his  health,  and  he  resigned  his  com- 
mission on  December  21,  1862.  He  returned  to  his  farm  near  As- 
toria, 111.,  where  he  died  November  24,  1889,  his  death  resulting 
from  injuries  received  from  falling  down  stairs. 

CAPTAIN  HENRY  S.  LA  TOURRETTE  was  born  in  Somerset 
county,  New  Jersey,  January  24,  1824;  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Ohio  in  1831,  and  to  Illinois  in  1841,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near 
Canton,  in  Fulton  county.  He  crossed  the  plains  to  Denver,  Col., 
in  1859,  and  later  made  a  trip  to  California.  In  1860,  he  estab- 
lished a  cattle  ranch  near  Fort  Union,  N.  M.,  which  was  becoming 
profitable  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion.  He  then  sold  his 
claim  and  stock,  taking  notes  for  the  proceeds  of  sale,  which  were 
never  paid,  and  returned  to  Illinois  for  the  purpose  of  entering 
the  army.  He  enlisted  from  Astoria  as  a  private,  and  was  pro- 
moted to  be  captain  December  21,  1862.  He  commanded  the  com- 
pany until  severely  wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Moun- 
tain, Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  This  wound  made  necessary  the  am- 
putation of  his  right  arm  near  the  shoulder,  and  ended  his  career 
with  the  company.  He  was  honorably  discharged  July  1,  1865, 
and  went  to  New  Orleans,  La.,  where  he  was  keeper  of  bonded 
stores  for  ten  years.  He  was  in  the  internal  revenue  service  at 
St.  Louis,  Mo.,  for  six  years,  but  is  now  residing  at  Winchester, 
Scott  county,  Illinois. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  LAFAYETTE  CURLESS  was  born  in 
Brown  County,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Bluff  City,  Schuyler 
county,  Illinois,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six.  He  was  married,  and  a 
farmer,  was  elected  first  lieutenant  at  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany, participated  in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  and  served  with 
the  company  until  the  army  arrived  at  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  where 
he  resigned  his  commission  and  returned  home.  He  was  mur- 
dered in  Bluff  City,  111..  May  7,  1886. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  JOHN  M.   ROBERTSON  was  born   in 


r>.   L,   MUSSKLMAN, 

QUINCV.    II. I..,    18OO. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  G.  435 

Woodland,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  in  1839,  was  married,  and  enlist- 
ed from  his  native  township.  He  was  elected  second  lieutenant  at 
the  organization  of  the  company,  and  promoted  to  be  first  lienten- 
ant  November  12,  1862.  He  participated  in  all  the  campaigns  and 
battles  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged,  until  severely  wounded 
by  a  gunshot  through  the  thigh,  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw 
Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  This  ended  his  service  with  the 
company,  as  upon  recovery  he  was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  com- 
missary department,  where  he  remained  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  mustered  out  June  5,  1865,  and  returned  to  his  former 
home  in  Illinois.  His  health  began  to  fail  a  few  years  later,  and 
he  made  a  trip  over  the  old  battlefields,  going  as  far  south  as 
Florida,  in  1880.  But  his  search  for  health  availed  not,  and  he 
died  near  Astoria,  111.,  February  20,  1881. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT  DE  LAFAYETTE  MUSSELMAN,  son 
of  George  Musselman  and  Sarah  A.  Saffer,  was  born  in  a  log 
cabin,  in  Fulton  county,  111.,  April  21,  1842.  He  can  justly  claim 
to  come  from  patriotic  stock,  as  his  father  enlisted  in  Company  E, 
Twenty-seventh  Illinois  Volunteer  Infantry  at  the  breaking  out  of 
the  rebellion,  and  served  his  full  term  of  three  years.  The  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  attended  the  Fulton  Seminary  at  Lewistown, 
111.,  during  the  winters  of  1859  and  1860,  enlisted  from  Woodland, 
and  was  chosen  first  sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany. He  was  promoted  second  lieutenant  November  12,  1862,  and 
served  under  that  commission  to  the  end  of  the  war. 

He  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain, 
Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  but  remained  on  duty,  assumed  command 
of  the  company,  and  continued  in  command  until  after  the  fall  of 
Atlanta,  when  he  received  a  twenty  days'  furlough  to  visit  home. 
He  left  the  company  at  Athens,  Ala.,  and  on  the  day  he  arrived  at 
Chattanooga  on  his  return,  communications  between  that  point 
and  Sherman's  army  were  destroyed.  He  was  then  assigned  to 
duty  as  assistant  adjutant  general  on  the  staff  of  Colonel  Dilworth, 
who  was  assigned  to  command  the  post  at  Cleveland,  Tenn. 
He  served  in  that  position  until  the  following  spring,  when  he 
rejoined  the  company  at  Goldsboro,  N.  C.,  and  resumed  command. 
He  participated  in  all  the  battles  in  which  the  regiment  was  en- 
gaged, commanded  the  company  from  Goldsboro  to  Washington, 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

He  returned  to  Illinois  at  the  close  of  his  service,  attended 
business  college  at  Chicago,  and  taught  one  year  in  that  city.  In 


436  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

1867,  he  went  to  Quincy,  111.,  where  he  taught  in  the  Bryant  & 
Stratton  Business  College  and  the  Quincy  English  and  German 
College.  In  1870,  he  purchased  an  interest  in  the  Gem  City  Busi- 
ness College  of  Quincy,  and  a  few  years  later  became  the  sole 
owner.  Under  his  careful,  energetic  management,  this  has  be- 
come one  of  the  most  successful  business  colleges  in  America, 
numbering  800  to  900  students  annually,  thirty-four  states  and  ter- 
ritories being  represented  among  its  students. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  LEWIS  S.  POST,  aged  thirty-eight,  born 
in  Elizabethtown,  Essex  county,  New  York,  single,  millwright; 
enlisted  from  Hickory,  111.  Was  chosen  sergeant  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  company.  Served  throifgh  the  Kentucky  and  Murfrees- 
boro  campaigns,  but  his  health  failed  and  he  was  transferred  to 
the  Veteran  Reserve  corps,  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  August  27,  1863. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  from  that  organization  at  the  close 
of  the  war.  When  last  heard  from  was  residing  at  235  Oneida 
street,  Pueblo,  Col. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  HENRY  J.  ATEN  was  born  October  12, 
1841,  on  a  farm  near  Astoria,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  on  which  his 
parents,  Richard  Aten  and  Ann  Peterson,  of  Brook  county,  Vir- 
ginia, had  settled  in  the  spring  of  1840.  His  paternal  and  maternal 
ancestors  were  from  Holland;  both  his  great  grandfathers  served 
the  colonies  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution,  and  his  maternal  grand- 
father was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  first  enlisted  August  8, 
1861,  in  Company  H,  Twenty-eight  Illinois  Infantry,  and  served 
until  discharged  at  Grand  Junction,  Miss.,  June  19,  1862,  for  dis- 
ability resulting  from  an  attack  of  typhoid  pneumonia.  He  again 
enlisted  August  12,  1862,  and  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  Company  G,  was  promoted  sergeant  at  Bowling  Green, 
Ky.,  December  12,  1862,  and  first  sergeant  February  17,  1863,  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.  He  participated  in  all  the  battles  and  campaigns 
in  which  the  command  was  engaged;  commanded  the  com- 
pany from  Atlanta  to  the  sea,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  Returning  to  Illinois  at  the  end  of  his  service,  he 
worked  on  the  old  homestead  until  the  autumn  of  1866,  attended 
business  college  at  Chicago,  and  began  teaching  bookkeeping  in 
the  business  college  at  Quincy,  111.,  the  following  spring.  He 
taught  and  kept  books  until  the  spring  of  1870,  when  he  went  to 
Kansas  and  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  loan  business  at  Hia- 
watha, in  Brown  county.  He  married  Miss  Maria  L.  Burbige,  of 
Quincy,  111.,  September  15,  1870,  and  has  two  daughters  the  issue 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  G.  437 

of  this  marriage.  Has  served  as  clerk  of  the  district  court,  mayor 
of  Hiawatha,  and  was  appointed  by  President  Harrison  to  nego- 
tiate with  the  Pottawatomie  and  Kickapoo  Indians  for  the  allot- 
ments of  their  lands  in  severalty.  Later  he  was  appointed  special 
agent  and  allotted  lands  to  the  members  of  both  tribes.  For  ten 
years  past  he  has  been  vice-president  of  the  Society  of  the  Army 
of  the  Cumberland  for  Kansas.  Is  the  writer  of  the  history  in 
which  this  sketch  appears,  and  resides  at  Hiawatha,  Kan. 

SERGEANT  W.  IRVING  SHANNON  was  born  in  Coshocton 
county,  Ohio,  in  1842,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in 
1850,  where  they  settled  on  a  farm  near  Astoria,  in  Fulton  county. 
He  first  enlisted  October  12,  1861,  in  Company  G,  Fifty-fifth  Illi- 
nois Infantry,  and  was  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh, 
Tenn.,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  resulting  from  wounds, 
June  10,  1862.  He  again  enlisted  August  12,  1862,  and  was  chosen 
sergeant  at  the  organization  of  Company  G;  served  with  the  com- 
pany until  mortally  wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Moun- 
tain, Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  and  died  before  assistance  could  reach 
him.  The  remains  of  this  brave  veteran  soldier  are  buried  at 
No.  8739  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

SERGEANT  THOMAS  HORTON  was  born  in  Coshocton  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  June  27,  1827,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1845,  and  settled  on 
a  farm  near  Bluff  City,  Schuyler  county,  Illinois.  He  enlisted 
from  Bluff  City,  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the 
company;  was  promoted  to  be  sergeant;  served  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  At  the  close  of 
his  service  he  resumed  farming,  and  died  at  Bluff  City,  111.,  March 
19,  1869. 

SERGEANT  LEWIS  P.  WRIGHT  was  born  in  Harrison  county, 
Indiana,  March  28,  1844,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in 
1856,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Kerton,  in  Fulton 
county.  He  participated  in  all  the  battles  and  campaigns  in  which 
the  regiment  was  engaged,  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  assault  on 
Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  was  promoted  ser- 
geant, and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  At  the  end  of 
the  war  he  returned  to  Illinois,  resumed  farming  and  now  resides 
at  Enion,  Fulton  county. 

SERGEANT  DANIEL,  G.  LONGFELLOW,  aged  twenty-three, 
born  in  Aroostook  county,  Maine,  was  married  and  a  farmer  when 
he  enlisted  from  Hickory,  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  He  was  pro- 


438  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

moted  sergeant;  served  with  his  company  through  all  the  cam- 
paigns in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged,  until  killed  in  the 
assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864. 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  SMITH  enlisted  from  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  as  a  private,  was  married,  and  a  farmer.  Served  through 
all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged,  was  pro- 
moted sergeant,  and  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned 
to  Illinois,  and  resumed  farming,  but,  if  living,  his  present  address 
is  unknown. 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  R.  ROE,  aged  thirty-five,  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, was  married,  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Wood- 
land, 111.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany, promoted  sergeant  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  served  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  At  the 
end  of  his  service  he  returned  to  Illinois,  and  died  at  Bluff  City, 
June  16,  1885. 

SERGEANT  LORENZO  D.  GOULD  was  born  in  Brown  county, 
Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-seven,  married,  farmer,  and  was  chosen  sergeant  at 
the  organization  of  the  company.  He  was  a  very  faithful  soldier, 
and  served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign, when  failing  health  sent  him  to  the  hospital.  He  died  at 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  November  1,  1864,  and  his  remains  are  buried  at  No. 
7739  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

CORPORAL  WILLIAM  P.  BRYANT,  deserted  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  January  10,  1863. 

CORPORAL  JOHN  F.  KENNEDY,  aged  thirty-four,  born  in 
Indiana,  was  married,  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Ful- 
ton county,  Illinois.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization 
of  the  company;  served  with  the  company  until  his  health  failed, 
and  he  was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  corps,  September 
21,  1864.  He  was  honorably  discharged  from  that  organization  at 
Springfield,  111.,  September  11,  1865.  He  resides  at  Astoria,  111. 

CORPORAL  ELIAS  WHEELER,  aged  thirty-nine,  born  in 
Brook  county,  Virginia,  was  married,  and  a  farmer  when  he  en- 
listed from  Astoria,  111.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  company,  but  his  health  soon  failed,  and  he  was  dis- 
charged for  disability  August  31,  1863.  He  returned  to  Illinois, 
and  died  April  15,  1889. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  G.  439 

CORPORAL  PERRY  ADKINSON,  deserted  January  10,  1863. 
CORPORAL  JACKSON  SMITH,  deserted  February  1,  1863. 

CORPORAL  JOSEPH  CURLESS,  aged  twenty-seven,  born  in 
Brown  county,  Ohio,  married,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Woodland, 
Fulton  county,  Illinois.  He  was  promoted  corporal,  served  with 
his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment. 

CORPORAL  PERRY  W.  CLUPPER  was  born  in  Unity,  Colum- 
biana  county,  Ohio,  March  11,  1842,  and  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Illinois  in  1857.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  enlisted  from  Schuyler 
county,  Illinois.  Was  promoted  corporal;  served  with  the  com- 
pany until  wounded  near  Louisville,  Ga.,  November  30,  1864.  He 
was  captured,  shot  through  the  neck,  and  left  for  dead  by  the 
enemy,  but  recovered,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
He  removed  to  Kansas  a  few  years  after  the  war  and  engaged  in 
farming  near  Salem,  Jewell  county,  where  he  still  resides. 

CORPORAL  PETER  W.  REVER,  aged  twenty-eight,  was  a  car- 
penter, born  in  Manheim,  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  enlisted 
from  Woodland,  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  He  was  promoted  cor- 
poral, and  served  with  his  company  until  the  assault  on  Kenne- 
saw  Mountain,  Georgia,  when  he  was  undoubtedly  killed  or  cap- 
tured and  died  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  It  seems  proba'ble  that 
he  leaped  the  enemy's  works,  and  in  so  doing  received  wounds 
from  which  he  died.  Others  saw  him  almost  up  to  the  works,  but 
the  only  report  that  could  ever  be  made  in  his  case,  was  that  most 
unsatisfactory  one,  "Missing  in  action  June  27,  1864." 

CORPORAL  DANIEL  SANDIDGE  was  born  in  McDonough 
county,  Illinois,  January  27,  1840,  was  married,  and  a  farmer  when 
he  enlisted  from  Oakland,  in  Schuyler  county.  He  participated  in 
all  the  battles  and  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged, 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  promoted  cor- 
poral and  mustered  out  as  such.  Upon  his  return  to  Illinois,  he 
engaged  in  farming,  and  for  many  years  has  resided  near  Mt.  Ster- 
ling, in  Brown  county. 

CORPORAL  JOHN  SHORES,  aged  twenty-seven,  was  born  in 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  married,  and  a  farmer,  when  he  enlisted 
from  Woodland,  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  He  was  promoted  cor- 
poral, and  served  with  his  company  until  killed  in  the  assault  on 


440  HISTORY  OF  THE  8STH  ILLINOIS. 

Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.     Is  buried  at  No.  928R 
in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

CORPORAL  ALEXANDER  R.  TIDRICK  was  born  in  Birming- 
ham, Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  March  12,  1839,  and  enlisted  as  a 
farmer  from  McDonough  county,  Illinois.  He  was  promoted  cor- 
poral; served  with  his  company  in  all  the  battles  in  which  the  reg- 
iment was  engaged,  was  promoted  corporal,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  He  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  assault  on 
Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  He  is  a  carpenter 
and  builder,  and  resides  at  Astoria,  111. 

MUSICIAN  SAMUEL  SIMMERS,  deserted  October  5,  1862. 
MUSICIAN  RALPH  E.  LINE,  deserted  November  8,  1862. 

WAGONER  GEORGE  COOPER  was  born  at  Millersburg, 
Holmes  county,  Ohio,  November  22,  1839,  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Illinois,  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Astoria,  in  1846.  He  en- 
listed as  a  farmer  from  Astoria  and  was  appointed  wagoner,  serv- 
ing in  that  capacity  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  wounded  in 
a  fight  at  or  near  Lavergne,  Tenn.,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  Upon  his  return  to  Illinois,  he  resumed  farming  near 
Summum,  in  Fulton  county,  where  he  still  resides. 

MILES  L.  ATWATER  was  born  in  Sheffield,  Ashtabula  county, 
Ohio,  married,  cooper,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  but  under  much 
embarrassment  at  times.  He  was  what  was  commonly  termed 
moon-eyed,  a  disease  of  the  retina  which  prevented  him  from  see- 
ing at  night,  and  the  writer  remembers  that  his  brother,  John 
Aten,  led  him  on  night"  marches.  But  he  served  faithfully  to  the 
end  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  After  the  war  he 
lived  near  Hamilton,  in  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  but  became 
totally  blind.  He  died  April  20,  1898. 

WILLIAM  ATWATER,  aged  twenty,  farmer,  born  in  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland.  Served  through 
the  Kentucky  campaign  until  the  command  arrived  at  Bowling 
Green,  where  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  and  was  discharged  for 
disability  March  1,  1863.  Is  supposed  to  reside  at  Oakwood,  Linn 
county,  Kansas. 

JOHN  ATEN,  the  second  son  of  Richard  Aten  and  Ann  Peter- 
son, and  brother  of  Henry  J.,  was  born  near  Astoria,  Fulton 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  G.  441 

county,  Illinois,  August  13,  1843,  and  enlisted  from  his  native  town. 
His  paternal  and  maternal  ancestors  were  from  Holland.  Both 
his  great  grandfathers  served  the  colonies  in  the  War  of  the  Revo- 
lution, and  his  maternal  grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  the  War  of 
1812.  He  was  wounded  early  in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky., 
October  S,  1862,  but  refused  to  leave  the  company  until  the  fight 
ended,  and  then  went  to  the  hospital  under  protest,  saying,  "It  is 
only  a  scratch!"  At  the  hospital  in  Louisville,  while  convales- 
cing, he  showed  such  aptitude  for  caring  for  the  sick  and  wounded, 
that  he  was  retained  some  six  months  as  nurse.  At  his  own 
request  he  was  returned  to  the  company  early  in  the  summer  of 
1863,  and  thereafter  never  missed  duty  for  a  single  day  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  when  he  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
After  his  return,  he  engaged  in  farming  in  McDonough  county  sev- 
eral years,  returned  to  Fulton  county,  and  bought  the  farm  near 
Astoria,  111.,  on  which  he  now  resides. 

PERRY  BROWN  was  born  in  Pleasantview,  Schuyler  county, 
Illinois,  August  2,  1838,  and  enlisted  from  Hickory.  He  was  mar- 
ried, and  a  farmer.  Served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  participat- 
ing in  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  command  was  engaged,  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Is  a  farmer,  and  resides  at 
Frederick,  Schuyler  county,  Illinois. 

THOMAS  BROWN,  aged  twenty-three,  married,  farmer,  born 
and  enlisted  from  Schuyler  county,  Illinois.  Served  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Was  mounted 
as  a  scout  during  part  of  his  service,  and  was  in  the  party  that 
captured  the  prisoners  at  Chickamauga,  as  related  in  Chapter  X. 
He  returned  to  Illinois,  resumed  farming,  but  has  been  dead  sev- 
eral years. 

SIMPSON  BROWN,  aged  twenty-six,  born  and  raised  in  Schuy- 
ler county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Browning;  farmer.  Served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  but  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  his 
health  failed,  and  he  was  discharged  for  disability  August  31,  1863. 
He  resumed  farming  upon  his  return  home,  but  died  at  Butlerville, 
111.,  a  few  years  after  the  close  of  the  war. 

AARON  F.  BREWER,  aged  nineteen,  born  at  Taylor,  Harrison 
county,  Indiana,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois. He  served  with  his  company  until  failing  health  sent  him 

to  the  hospital  at  McAffee  church,  Georgia,  where  he  died  January 
27 


442  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

22,  1864.    Is  buried  at  No.  10397  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Chat- 
tanooga, Tenn. 

WILLIAM  BOYD,  aged  fifty,  born  in  Franklin  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  married,  and  enlisted  from  Astoria,  111.  The  reports 
show  that  he  died  at  Lexington,  Ky.,  February  12,  1865,  but  it 
seems  more  probable  to  the  writer  that  his  death  occurred  in  1863. 

JOHN  E.  BOLIN,  aged  nineteen,  carpenter,  born  in  Fayette 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  enlisted  from  Astoria,  111.  He  served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
December  15,  1862. 

STEPHEN  L.  CASTOR,  aged  thirty-three,  married,  farmer, 
born  in  Campbell  county,  Kentucky,  and  enlisted  from  Kerton,  in 
Fulton  county,  Illinois.  He  participated  in  all  the  battles  and 
campaigns  in  which  his  company  was  engaged,  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  farming  at  his  old  home, 
but  afterward  removed  to  Missouri,  where  he  is  supposed  to  be  liv- 
ing, but  his  address  is  unknown. 

LORENZO  D.  CURLESS,  aged  twenty-four,  single,  farmer,  born 
in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  in  Fulton 
county,  Illinois.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  participating 
in  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  command  was  engaged,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  resides  near  Astoria,  111. 

ALEXANDER  CUNNINGHAM,  aged  twenty-three,  single, 
farmer,  born  in  Hancock  county,  Virginia,  and  enlisted  from 
Browning,  111.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  taking  part  in 
all  campaigns  in  which  the  command  was  engaged,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Browning,  111.,  mar- 
ried, and  removed  to  Missouri,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  He 
died  at  Warsaw,  Mo.,  December  24,  1899. 

JOHN  W.  DODGE,  aged  twenty-three,  farmer,  born  in  Schuy- 
ler  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Astoria.  He  served  to  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He 
returned  to  Illinois,  but  his  present  address  is  unknown. 

SILAS  DODGE,  aged  twenty-two,  single,  farmer,  born  in  and 
enlisted  from  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  He  served  with  his  com- 
pany until  severely  wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Moun- 
tain, Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  his  wound  causing  the  amputation  of 
his  right  arm.  He  was  transferred  to  the  hospital  at  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.,  where  he  died  July  9,  1864. 


.T.    ATIO*. 


OF  THF 

UNIVEHS!TY  of  ILLINOIS 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  G.  443 

JOHN  W.  DOUGLAS  was  born  at  Leesville,  Lawrence  county, 
Indiana,  December  23,  1841,  removed  to  Illinois  and  enlisted  from 
Woodland,  in  Fulton  county.  He  served  with  the  company 
through  all  the  battles  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged,  until 
near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  when  failing  health  caused  his  transfer  to  the 
Veteran  Reserve  corps.  He  served  in  the  reserve  corps  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  discharged  in  the  summer  of 
1865.  He  returned  to  Illinois  and  was  engaged  in  farming  until 
1880,  when  he  removed  to  Nebraska.  He  is  a  prosperous  farmer 
near  Tecumseh,  Johnson  county,  Nebraska. 

BENJAMIN  F.  EDMONDS,  deserted  October  8,  1862. 

MICHAEL  FAWCETT,  aged  twenty-three,  married,  farmer, 
born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Leesburg,  111.  Served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
April  5,  1863.  Is  buried  at  No.  7003,  in  the  national  cemetery  near 
that  city. 

LEVI  FAWCETT,  aged  thirty-five,  single,  farmer,  born  in  Bel- 
mont  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  111.  Served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  for  disability 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  1,  1863. 

SOLOMON  HOLT  was  born  at  Rochester,  Coshocton  county, 
Ohio,  January  19,  1839,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1860,  and  enlisted 
from  Kerton,  in  Fulton  county.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
participating  in  all  the  battles  and  campaigns  in  which  the  com- 
mand was  engaged,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He 
removed  to  Missouri  soon  after  the  war  closed,  and  engaged  in 
farming  in  Andrew  county.  He  located  near  Savannah,  where  he 
still  resides. 

DANIEL  HAYES,  aged  thirty-one,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Richland  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Hickory,  Schuyler 
county,  Illinois.  His  health  failed  on  the  Kentucky  campaign, 
and  he  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  December  1,  1862. 

JAMES  M.  JONES,  aged  thirty-two,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Drake  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  taking  part  in  all  the 
battles  in  which  the  command  was  engaged,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Astoria,  111.,  and  resumed 
farming,  and  died  there  October  3,  1898. 


444  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

WILLIAM  KELLY,  aged  thirty,  married,  farmer,  born  in  Rich- 
land  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Schuyler  county,  Illinois. 
His  health  failed  and  he  was  early  sent  to  the  hospital,  and  was 
discharged  for  disability,  at  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  July  18,  1863.  He 
died  January  15,  1891. 

FRANKLIN  KERNS,  aged  twenty-five,  married,  farmer,  born 
near  Astoria,  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  Served  through  the  Ken- 
tucky campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  1,  1863.  Is 
buried  at  No.  3250  in  the  national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

DAVID  M.  KING  was  'born  at  Milford,  Union  county,  Ohio, 
April  10,  1820,  and  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted 
from  Woodland,  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  He  served  through  the 
Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  April  1,  1863.  He  returned  to  Illinois,  resumed  farm- 
ing, but  is  now  living  retired  at  Bushnell,  McDonough  county,  111. 

DAVID  T.  LINE,  deserted  October  8,  1862. 

CHARLES  LAMPERELL,  aged  eighteen,  blacksmith,  born  in 
Kent  county,  England,  and  enlisted  from  Astoria,  111.  He  served 
with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Astoria  and  engaged  in 
farming,  but  has  been  dead  for  several  years. 

HENRY  LAFARY,  married,  farmer,  born  in  Brown  county, 
Ohio,  April  15,  1833,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois.  He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  par- 
ticipated in  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  command  was  engaged, 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois, 
resumed  farming,  and  now  resides  at  Smithfield,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois. 

JOHN  LIVINGSTON  was  born  at  Astoria,  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois, January  28,  1840,  and  enlisted  from  his  native  town.  He 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  taking  part  in  all  the  engage- 
ments in  which  the  command  was  engaged,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  He  was  wounded  in  a  railroad  accident  at 
Manchester,  Tenn.,  while  on  duty  as  train  guard.  He  is  a  carpen- 
ter and  builder,  and  resides  at  Bushnell,  McDonough  county,  Illi- 
nois. 

JAMES  S.  LEWIS,  enlisted  from  Astoria,  was  a  farmer.  Served 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  G.  445 

ment.  He  returned  to  Astoria  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  re- 
sumed farming,  but  for  many  years  he  has  been  in  poor  health, 
the  result  of  his  hard  service.  He  resides  at  St.  Marys,  Hancock 
county,  Illinois. 

STEPHEN  LEVINGSTON,  aged  twenty-five,  deserted  October 
5,  1862. 

THOMAS  J.  LEVINGSTON,  aged  nineteen,  enlisted  from 
Astoria,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  Octo- 
ber 1,  1862. 

ANDERSON  McCOMB,  aged  thirty-seven,  married,  butcher, 
born  in  Hickman  county,  Kentucky,  and  enlisted  from  Schuyler 
county,  Illinois.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

JOHN  McKAY,  aged  twenty-eight,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
New  York,  deserted  April  1,  1863. 

THOMAS  O'DONNELL  deserted  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky. 
He  was  killed  by  being  run  over  by  a  railway  train  at  Beardstown, 
111.,  in  about  1889. 

WILLIAM  PRENTICE,  aged  thirty-four,  married,  farmer,  born 
in  Adair  county,  Kentucky,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  in  Ful- 
ton county,  Illinois.  He  served  with  his  company  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  a 
brother  of  Berry  Prentice,  killed  at  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia. 
He  returned  to  Illinois  and  resumed  farming  in  Fulton  county,  and 
died  there  February  19,  1891. 

BERRY  PRENTICE,  aged  twenty-five,  married,  farmer,  born 
in  Adair  county,  Kentucky,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois.  He  served  with  his  company  through  all  the 
battles  in  which  it  was  engaged,  until  killed  in  the  assault  on 
Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  Is  buried  at  No.  8671 
in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

JOHN  N.  PARR  was  born  at  Heidelburgh,  York  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, February  19,  1838,  and  was  a  brickmaker  when  he  en- 
listed from  Pleasant,  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  He  served  with  his 
company  through  all  the  battles  and  campaigns  in  which  the  com- 
mand was  engaged,  and  was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war 
with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Pleasant  township,  where  he  has  served  as  member  of  the 


446  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

county   board,   and   commissioner   of   highways.    His   address   is 
Summum,  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 

FRANCIS  MARION  PLANK  was  born  near  Astoria,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  October  28,  1844,  and  enlisted  from  his  native 
town.  He  served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia.  He  received  a  gun  sno* 
through  the  neck  and  left  leg,  which  confined  him  to  the  hospital 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  honorably  discharged  from  the 
hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  returned  to  his  former  home  in 
Illinois.  He  removed  some  years  later  to  Iowa,  and  engaged  in 
farming  in  Allamokee  county,  where  he  resides  on  a  farm  of  his 
own,  free  from  debt,  and  contented.  His  address  is  Ion,  Alla- 
mokee county,  Iowa. 

WILLIAM  R.  PARKER,  aged  eighteen,  born  in  and  enlisted 
from  Woodland,  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  Served  to  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  returned  to  his  former  home,  killed  a  comrade,  and 
left  for  parts  unknown. 

GEORGE  POWELL,  aged  twenty-five,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Adair  county,  Kentucky,  and  enlisted  from  Astoria,  Illinois.  He 
served  with  the  company  until  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve 
corps  March  1,  1864,  but  his  subsequent  career  is  unknown  to  the 
writer. 

GEORGE  W.  REED  was  born  at  Keen,  Coshocton  county,  Ohio, 
May  31,  1844,  and  with  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois  in  1859; 
enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton  county.  Served  to  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  At  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  he  was  detailed  in  Battery  I,  Second  Illinois  Light  Artillery 
and  served  with  the  brigade  battery  until  the  winter  of  1864.  He 
returned  to  Illinois  and  engaged  in  farming  until  August,  1899, 
when  he  removed  to  Wood  River,  Hall  county,  Nebraska,  where 
he  now  resides. 

LEWIS  C.  SMITH,  aged  forty-one,  single,  farmer.born  in  Ohio, 
and  enlisted  from  Hickory,  Schuyler  county,  Illinois.  Discharged 
for  disability  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  1,  1863. 

HORACE  J.  SNODGRASS,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in 
Harrison  county,  Indiana,  and  enlisted  from  Kerton,  Fulton  coun- 
ty, Illinois.  He  served  with  his  company  until  instantly  killed 
at  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  July  1,  1864.  Tired  out  with 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  G.  447 

crouching  behind  the  works,  he  exposed  his  head  while  changing 
position,  and  a  ball  passed  through  his  brain. 

JOSEPH  B.  SHAWGO  was  born  in  Zanesville,  Ohio,  in  1843, 
and  with  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois  in  1855;  enlisted  from 
Browning,  111.,  and  served  with  his  company  until  mounted  at 
brigade  headquarters  in  the  summer  of  1863.  He  was  one  of  the 
party  of  scouts  that  captured  the  rebel  prisoners  on  the  eve  of 
the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Ga.,  as  related  in  Chapter  X.  He  was 
near  Colonel  Dan  McCook  when  that  officer  was  mortally  wounded 
and  carried  him  from  the  field.  He  was  still  serving  as  a  scout 
when  selected  to  carry  a  dispatch  from  General  Sherman,  then 
at  Milledgeville,  Ga.,  to  General  Thomas,  then  supposed  to  be  at 
Chattanooga,  Tenn.  This  very  difficult  and  dangerous  duty  he 
performed,  finding  and  delivering  the  dispatch  to  General  Thomas 
at  Nashville.  He  then  served  as  orderly  on  the  staff  of  General 
A.  J.  Smith,  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Nashville,  Tenn.  He  graduated  from  Abingdon  Col- 
lege, at  Abingdon,  111.,  in  1869,  studied  medicine,  and  graduated 
from  a  medical  college,  Chicago,  111.,  in  1877.  He  began  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  at  Quincy,  111.,  the  same  year.  He  has  filled 
various  positions  of  trust  under  city,  state  and  U.  S.  government, 
and  is  still  practicing  his  chosen  profession  at  Quincy,  111. 

GEORGE  W.  SHAWGO,  brother  of  the  doctor,  born  in  Zanes- 
ville, Ohio,  in  1839,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois.  He  was  discharged  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  October  1,  1862, 
returned  to  Illinois,  and  now  resides  on  a  farm  near  Fandon, 
McDonough  county,  Illinois. 

ALFRED  SMITH,  aged  twenty-nine,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Smithfield,  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Rushville, 
111.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  but  his  health 
failed,  and  he  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  16,  1863.  Is 
buried  at  No.  5134,  in  the  national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

JAMES  N.  STEPHENSON,  aged  twenty,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Woodland.  Served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Fulton 
county,  resumed  farming,  but  died  soon  after  his  return,  near 
Summum,  111. 

MARION  SEVERNS  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois.  Served  with  his  company  until  killed  in  the  assault  on 


448  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.    He  was  a  cousin  of 
William,  of  Company  H,  wounded  in  the  same  action. 

SOLOMON  STILL,  aged  thirty-one,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and 
was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  corps  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

SAMUEL  STILL,  aged  twenty-six,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois.  His  health  failing  on  the  Kentucky  campaign, 
he  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Danville,  where  he  died  December  o, 
1862.  Is  buried  at  No.  49,  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Danville, 
Kentucky. 

ROBERT  STILL,  aged  twenty-eight,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois.  Served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was 
discharged  for  disability,  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  1,  1863. 
Reported  dead. 

JAMES  SHIELDS,  aged  eighteen,  born  in  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  enlisted  from  Woodland.  Served  with  his  company 
through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged 
until  killed  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June 
27,  1864. 

LEWIS  SEYMOUR  was  born  in  Montreal,  Canada,  February  20, 
1825,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1856,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  en- 
listed from  Hickory,  Schuyler  county.  He  served  with  his  com- 
pany until  transferred  to  the  engineer  corps,  July  31,  1864,  and  in 
that  organization  to  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  June  24,  1865.  He  returned  to 
Illinois,  resumed  farming,  and  resides  near  Summum,  111. 

AARON  THOMAS  was  born  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  Febru- 
ary 22,  1828,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1850,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Fulton  county.  He  enlisted  from  Woodland.  Served  with  his 
company  until  June  1,  1863,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  Vet- 
eran Reserve  corps  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  He  was  discharged  from 
that  organization,  June  28,  1865,  and  returned  to  his  former  home 
in  Illinois.  He  is  now  retired  and  resides  at  Astoria,  111. 

DAVID  THOMAS,  aged  twenty-five,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Boone,  Harrison  county,  Indiana,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland, 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  G.  449 

Fulton  county,  Illinois.  Served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois  and  was 
a  teamster  at  Lewistown  when  he  died.  His  widow  resides  at 
Lewistown,  111. 

DAVID  TAYLOR,  aged  twenty-two,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Kentucky,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 
He  served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  wounded  by  a  gun  shot 
in  the  face  at  Pumpkin  Vine  creek,  Georgia,  but  recovered  and  re- 
turned to  duty.  His  address  is  unknown  to  the  writer. 

THOMAS  J.  TATE  deserted  September  1,  1863. 

JOHN  THOMPSON  was  born  in  Butlersville,  Schuyler  county, 
Illinois,  February  5,  1845,  and  enlisted  from  his  native  town.  In 
the  Kentucky  campaign  a  wagon  ran  over  and  broke  his  left  foot, 
which  disabled  him  for  marching,  and  he  was  detailed  as  an  or- 
derly at  brigade  headquarters,  where  he  served  to  the  close  of  the 
war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  wounded 
in  the  battle  at  Buzzard  Roost,  Ga.,  February  25,  1864,  by  a  gun 
shot  through  the  left  arm.  He  was  in  one  more  battle  than  the 
regiment — Bentonville,  N.  C.,  where  he  received  a  shot  through  his 
pants.  He  was  the  first  man  to  reach  Cape  Fear  river,  where  he 
captured  a  rebel  sergeant,  some  negroes  and  a  flat  boat.  He  re- 
moved to  Missouri  in  1871  and  began  farming  in  Harrison  county. 
Has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  and  now  resides  at  Gilman  City, 
Harrison  county,  Missouri. 

BENTON  TURNER  deserted  January  21,  1863. 

GEORGE  WORKMAN,  aged  twenty,  born  in  Schuyler  county, 
Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Butlerville.  Served  with  his  company 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  was 
detailed  in  the  scouts  at  brigade  headquarters,  where  he  served  to 
the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  At 
the  end  of  his  service  he  returned  to  his  former  home,  where  he 
was  murdered  by  one  whom  he  was  trying  to  befriend. 

JOSEPH  H.  WOODRUFF  deserted  at  Perryville,  Ky.,  October 

8,  1862. 


450  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 


Recruiting  for  Company  H  was  commenced  on  July 
3ist,  and  by  the  6th  of  August,  1862,  the  first  of  the  two 
companies  enlisted  at  Astoria  had  been  enrolled.  As 
with  Company  G,  this  company  stands  on  the  record  as 
having  been  enrolled  by  the  Hon.  S.  P.  Cummings.  At 
the  organization  of  the  company  the  following  commis- 
sioned officers  were  elected :  Nathaniel  McClelland, 
captain ;  Luke  Elliott,  first  lieutenant,  and  William 
Cohren,  second  lieutenant. 

During  the  three  years'  service  29  of  this  company 
were  hit  with  shot  or  shell,  4  of  whom  were  killed  in 
action,  i  died  of  wounds,  24  received  wounds  from 
which  they  recovered  or  were  discharged,  6  officers  re- 
signed, ii  men  died  of  disease,  24  were  discharged,  6 
were  transferred,  and  45  were  present  at  the  final  mus- 
ter out. 

Of  Company  H  it  may  be  fairly  said  that  it  per- 
formed its  full  measure  of  duty,  bore  its  full  share  of 
hardships  and  suffered  its  full  proportion  of  loss.  The 
record  of  the  regiment  was  made  brighter  by  its  har- 
monious action  in  camp  and  field,  by  its  steady,  soldierly 
bearing  in  battle,  and  its  prompt  and  intelligent  response 
to  every  call  for  duty.  The  following  is 

THE   COMPANY   ROSTER. 

CAPTAIN  NATHANIEL  McCLELLAND  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  Ohio,  January  25,  1826,  and  with  his  parents  removed  to 
Illinois  in  1830  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Astoria,  in  Fulton 
county.  He  was  a  farmer,  a  ready  speaker  and  frequently  occu- 
pied the  pulpit  of  the  Methodist  church  in  Astoria  and  vicinity. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  H.  451 

He  assisted  in  recruiting  the  company  and  at  its  organization  was 
elected  captain.  An  elder  brother,  William,  was  chosen  captain  of 
Company  G,  and  a  younger  brother,  Captain  Thomas  G.,  had  but 
recently  lost  his  life  while  in  command  of  Company  H,  Third  Illi- 
nois cavalry.  Captain  McClelland  served  through  the  Kentucky 
campaign,  participating  in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  October  8, 
1862,  but  failing  health  forced  him  to  resign  his  commission,  which 
was  accepted  November  12,  1862,  and  he  returned  home.  He  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  several  years  near  Astoria,  but  afterward  re- 
moved to  Plymouth,  in  Hancock  county,  where  he  died  January  14, 
1878.  His  widow  and  at  least  one  son  now  reside  at  Plymouth,  111. 

CAPTAIN  DAVID  MAXWELL  was  born  in  Jackson  county, 
Ohio,  March  22,  1822,  and  removed  to  Illinois  in  April,  1844.  He 
crossed  the  plains  to  California  in  1850,  returned  to  Illinois  some 
two  years  later,  and  was  married  and  a  cooper  when  he  enlisted 
as  a  private  from  Astoria.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign, participated  in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  was  promoted  to  be 
captain  November  12,  1862,  and  commanded  the  company  until 
failing  health  compelled  him  to  resign  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  May 
14,  1863.  He  returned  to  Illinois,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in 
farming  and  fruit  growing.  He  resides  near  Astoria,  Pulton 
county,  Illinois. 

CAPTAIN  JAMES  T.  McNEIL  was  born  in  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois, January  29,  1838,  his  parents,  David  McNeil  and  Mary  Cole, 
natives  of  New  York,  having  settled  in  that  county  in  1828.  He 
went  to  Kansas  in  1855,  remaining  there  through  the  early  border 
troubles,  and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  he 
went  to  Iowa  and  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  regiment  commanded 
by  Colonel  D.  S.  Moore.  He  was  promoted  captain  and  commanded 
his  company  at  the  battle  of  Athens,  Mo.  At  the  expiration  of  his 
term  of  service  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  enlisted  as  a  private 
from  Astoria.  He  participated  in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky., 
and  was  promoted  first  lieutenant  November  12,  1862.  He  was  de- 
tailed as  military  conductor,  and  ran  the  railway  trains  from 
Nashville  to  Murfreesboro  until  relieved  at  his  own  request.  He 
was  promoted  captain  May  14,  1863,  and  commanded  his  company 
until  captured,  as  related  in  chapter  XII.  He  resumed  command 
of  the  company  at  McAffee  Church,  Georgia,  and  served  until  the 
close  of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  when  his  health,  which  had  not 
been  good  since  his  prison  experience,  forced  him  to  resign.  Re- 


452  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

turning  to  Astoria,  111.,  he  served  in  the  revenue  department  at 
Peoria,  one  or  more  terms,  but  has  never  recovered  his  health.  He 
was  married  to  Mary  A.  Ruble,  of  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  in  1856,  and 
they  now  reside  at  Table  Grove,  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 

CAPTAIN  IRA  A.  MARDIS  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  county, 
Ohio,  December  25,  1839,  attended  Granville  college  at  Granville, 
Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1861  and  was  teaching  in  Fulton 
county  when  he  enlisted  from  Woodland.  He  was  chosen  first  ser- 
geant at  the  organization  of  the  company,  was  promoted  first  lieu- 
tenant May  14,  1862,  and  to  be  captain  August  29,  1864.  He  served 
with  his  company  through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regi- 
ment was  engaged,  commanded  the  company  from  the  time  he  was 
commissioned  captain  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois  and  engaged  in 
teaching,  but  some  years  later  removed  to  Denver,  Colo.,  where  he 
died  April  21,  1897. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  LUKE  ELLIOTT  was  born  in  the  state 
of  New  York,  June  15,  1815,  spent  his  boyhood  in  Ohio  and  re- 
moved to  Illinois  in  1836.  He  enlisted  from  Summum,  and  at  the 
organization  of  the  company  was  elected  first  lieutenant.  He 
served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Perryville,  October  8,  1862,  and  resigned  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
November  21,  1863,  for  disability.  Returning  to  Summum  he  was 
appointed  enrolling  officer  and  continued  in  that  position  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  served  as  mem'ber  of  the  county  board  from 
Woodland  and  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  many  years.  He  was  a 
shoemaker  by  trade  and  continued  his  occupation  at  Summum 
until  his  death,  which  occurred  October  11,  1892. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  ANDREW  J.  HORTON  was  born  at 
New  Castle,  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  October  28,  1835,  and  removed 
with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1853,  locating  on  a  farm  in  Fulton 
county.  He  enlisted  from  Woodland  and  was  chosen  sergeant  at 
the  organization  of  the  company.  Was  promoted  second  lieuten- 
ant March  26,  1863,  and  to  be  first  lieutenant  August  29,  1864.  He 
was  captured  in  December,  1862,  at  Lavergne,  Tenn.,  and  held  pris- 
oner four  months.  He  commanded  Company  B  for  a  time  toward 
the  close  of  the  war  and  was  in  command  of  that  company  when 
it  was  mustered  out.  He  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment  and 
returned  to  his  farm,  where  he  still  resides.  Has  served  as  mem- 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  H.  453 

ber  of  the  county  board  twelve  years  and  filled  township  offices  for 
thirty  years.     His  address  is  Astoria,  111. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT  WILLIAM  COHREN,  aged  thirty-one, 
married,  farmer,  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois, 
and  was  engaged  in  farming  when  he  enlisted  from  Astoria.  He 
was  elected  second  lieutenant  at  the  organization  of  the  company, 
participated  in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862,  and 
upon  the  arrival  of  the  command  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  he  resigned 
on  account  of  failing  health.  He  returned  to  Illinois  and  resumed 
farming  near  Astoria.  But  some  years  since  he  removed  to  Kan- 
sas, and  is  understood  to  be  farming  near  Wetmore,  Nemaha 
county. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT  WASHINGTON  M.  SHIELDS  was 
born  in  Harrison  county,  Indiana,  May  18,  1830,  removed  to  Illi- 
nois, and  was  a  merchant  when  he  enlisted  from  Woodland.  He 
served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign  as  a  private  and  was  pro- 
moted second  lieutenant  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  November  12,  1862. 
He  resigned  his  commission  February  16,  1863,  and  returned  to 
Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  dealing  in  live  stock.  He  served  as 
city  marshal  at  Lewistown,  and  now  resides  at  No.  221  North  Glen- 
dale  avenue,  Peoria,  111. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  WILLIAM  H.  McLAREN  was  born  near 
Astoria,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  December  16,  1839,  and  was  a 
farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  his  native  town.  He  served  as  a 
private  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  promoted  first 
sergeant  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  the  summer  of  1863,  served  with 
his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  participated  in  all  the  cam- 
paigns in  which  the  command  had  a  part  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  On  returning  to  Illinois  he  resumed  farming; 
has  served  as  school  trustee,  tax  collector  and  member  of  the 
county  board  for  Astoria  township.  He  now  resides  in  Canton, 
Fulton  county,  Illinois. 

SERGEANT  JOHN  B.  PALMER  was  born  at  Freeman's  Land- 
ing, Brook  county,  Virginia,  June  16,  1837,  and  removed  with  his 
parents  to  Illinois  in  1852,  was  teaching  when  he  enlisted  from 
Astoria.  He  was  chosen  sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany, served  with  his  company  through  the  Kentucky  campaign, 
and  in  February,  1863,  he  was  detached  and  became  a  member  of 
Captain  Powell's  scouts.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  For  more  than  a  year  of  his 


454  HISTORY  OF  THE  8STH  ILLINOIS. 

term  of  .service  he  was  of  the  mounted  escort  to  the  commander  of 
the  Fourteenth  army  corps.  He  returned  to  Illinois  and  resumed 
teaching,  but  later  removed  to  Kansas,  was  probate  judge  of  Grant 
county  from  1892  to  1896,  served  a  term  as  vice-commander  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  Department  of  Kansas,  and  now  re- 
sides at  Orondo,  Douglas  county,  Washington. 

SERGEANT  ELI  SHIELDS,  aged  twenty-five,  married,  wheel- 
wright, born  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Wood- 
land. He  served  with  his  company  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign, was  mounted  as  a  scout  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  and  was  of  the 
party  that  captured  the  prisoners  on  the  eve  of  the  battle  of  Chick- 
amauga,  returned  to  duty  with  his  company,  and  was  killed  in  the 
assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864. 

SERGEANT  AMOS  KINZER  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania,  June  21,  1835,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  was  a  farmer 
when  he  enlisted  from  Kerton,  in  Fulton  county.  He  served  with 
his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  taking  part  in  all  the  cam- 
paigns and  battles  in  which  the  command  was  engaged,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois,  where  he 
remained  until  October,  1876,  when  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Kansas  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Sedgwick  county.  He  reared 
a  family  of  boys  and  girls,  who  are  all  grown  and  doing  for  them- 
selves. He  died  February  21,  1893,  leaving  his  wife,  Margaret  E. 
(Wilson)  Kinzer,  who  still  resides  at  Sedgwick,  Kan. 

SERGEANT  ANDERSON  JENNINGS  was  born  in  Williams 
county,  Ohio,  December  4,  1842,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1854,  and 
was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Astoria.  He  was  chosen  cor- 
poral at  the  organization  of  the  company,  was  promoted  sergeant, 
participated  in  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  command  was  en- 
gaged, and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Returning  to 
Illinois,  he  attended  Abingdon  college  and  began  teaching.  He 
has  mined  in  Mexico,  been  postmaster  and  president  of  the  board 
of  registration  in  Arkansas,  was  elected  representative  from 
Woodruff  county,  but  was  counted  out;  was  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  now  resides  at  Wister,  Indian  Territory. 

SERGEANT  ABRAHAM  COOPER,  aged  eighteen,  born  in  Co- 
shocton  county,  Ohio,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1846, 
and  settled  on  a  farm  near  Astoria,  where  he  enlisted  as  a  tinner. 
He  served  to,the  close  of  the  war,  was  promoted  sergeant  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois  at  the 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  H.  455 

close  of  the  war,  and  was  working  at  his  trade  in  Bath,  when  he 
fell  ill  with  a  fever.  While  recovering,  but  perhaps  not  conscious 
of  what  he  did,  he  was  drowned  in  the  Illinois  river  in  about  1866. 

SERGEANT  SILAS  D.  HENDERSON,  aged  thirty-three,  mar- 
ried, farmer,  born  in  Smith  county,  Tennessee,  and  enlisted  from 
Astoria,  111.  He  served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the 
war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  The  report  of  the 
commissioner  of  pensions  states  that  he  died  March  30,  1891. 

CORPORAL  JOHN  T.  ZIMMERMAN  was  born  at  New  Castle, 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  December  17,  1841,  removed  to  Illinois  in 
1856,  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Astoria,  111. 
He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  was  slightly  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  Ga.,  and  captured  near  Columbia,  S.  C.,  in 
February,  1865.  He  was  confined  in  the  rebel  prison  at  Salisbury, 
N.  C.,  some  thirty-three  days,  was  exchanged  and  honorably  dis- 
charged June  17,  1865.  He  is  a  veterinary  surgeon  and  resides  at 
Macomb,  McDonough  county,  Illinois. 

CORPORAL  GEORGE  H.  WETZEL  was  born  on  a  farm  near 
Astoria,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  November  24,  1840,  and  enlisted 
from  his  native  town.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization 
of  the  company,  served  with  his  company  and  participated  in  all 
the  battles  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged  until  severely 
wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27, 
18C4.  His  wound,  a  gun  shot  through  the  thigh,  detained  him  in 
the  hospital  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Springfield,  111.,  June  7,  1865.  He  settled  on  a  farm  in 
Schuyler  county  and  engaged  in  stock  raising,  was  collector,  com- 
missioner and  trustee  of  his  township  in  Schuyler  county  and  trus- 
tee in  Fulton  county.  He  is  a  prosperous  and  progressive  farmer, 
now  residing  at  Lewistown,  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 

CORPORAL  HENRY  SHIELDS  was  born  on  a  farm  near  As- 
toria, Fulton  county,  Illinois,  May  18,  1841,  and  enlisted  from 
Woodland.  Was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany, served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  taking  part  in  all  the  cam- 
paigns in  which  the  command  was  engaged  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  Sinca  the  close  of  his  service  he  has  served  as 
county  commissioner  and  city  marshal.  He  removed  to  Washing- 
ton and  engaged  in  merchandising  at  Centralia,  in  Lewis  county, 
where  he  now  resides. 


456  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

CORPORAL  FRANKLIN  SHELLY  was  born  at  Jennings  Gap, 
Augusta  county,  Virginia,  February  11,  1835,  removed  to  Illinois 
in  October,  1856,  was  single  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Astoria,  111.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  his 
company,  participated  in  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment 
was  engaged  until  severely  wounded  near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  in  the 
action  on  the  Sandtown  road.  His  was  a  gun  shot  wound  through 
the  shoulder,  which  disabled  him  from  further  service,  and  he  was 
discharged  on  account  of  wounds  from  the  United  States  hospital 
at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  March  9,  1865.  He  resumed  farming  upon 
his  return  from  the  army  and  now  resides  at  Sheldon's  Grove, 
Schuyler  county,  Illinois. 

CORPORAL  DAVID  S.  SHANK  deserted  January  3,  1863. 

CORPORAL  JOHN  W.  SWAN,  aged  twenty-six,  blacksmith, 
born  in  Loudoun  county,  Virginia,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland, 
Fulton  county,  Illinois.  Served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  When  last  heard  from  he  was 
living  at  Liberty,  Montgomery  county,  Kansas. 

CORPORAL  ELISHA  J.  ELLIOT,  aged  nineteen,  farmer,  born 
in  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland;  was 
chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  company  and  served 
through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged 
until  killed  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June 
27,  1864.  Is  buried  at  No.  9266  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Mari- 
etta, Ga. 

CORPORAL  CHARLES  DUNCAN  was  born  at  Duncan's  Mills, 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  November  29,  1842,  was  a  farmer  and  en- 
listed from  Woodland.  He  was  promoted  corporal;  served  with 
his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  At  the  end  of  his  service  he  returned  to  his  former 
home,  resumed  farming  and  resides  at  Duncan's  Mills,  111. 

CORPORAL  THOMAS  B.  ENGLE  was  born  on  a  farm  near 
Astoria,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  April  7,  1844,  and  enlisted  from  his 
native  town.  He  was  promoted  corporal;  served  with  his  com- 
pany through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  command  was  en- 
gaged, was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  September  1, 
1864,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to 
Iowa  in  1872,  is  a  prosperous  farmer  and  resides  at  Coburg,  Mont- 
gomery county,  Iowa. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  H.  457 

CORPORAL  WILLIAM  SHIELDS,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer, 
'born  in  Woodland,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from 
Pleasant.  Was  promoted  corporal,  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

CORPORAL  SAMUEL  THOMPSON  was  born  on  a  farm  near 
Astoria,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  March  6,  1843,  and  enlisted  from 
his  native  town.  He  was  promoted  corporal;  served  with  his  com- 
pany to  the  close  of  the  war,  participated  in  all  the  battles  in 
which  the  command  had  a  part,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  He  removed  to  Nebraska  in  1878,  and  to  Missouri  in 
1894.  He  is  engaged  in  farming,  and  resides  at  Lamar,  Barton 
county,  Missouri. 

MUSICIAN  HENRY  H.WILSON  was  born  in  Langdon, Sullivan 
county,  New  Hampshire,  June  3,  1846,  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois  in  April,  1856,  and  was  attending  school  when  he  enlisted 
from  Astoria.  He  was  appointed  musician  at  the  organization  of 
the  company;  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  Returning  to  Astoria  he  studied  medicine, 
graduated  from  the  medical  department  of  the  Iowa  University  at 
Keokuk  in  1867  and  began  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  at 
Lindley,  Grundy  county,  Missouri,  in  1868.  He  removed  to  Mon- 
tana in  May,  1899,  and  is  now  engaged  in  the  practice  of  medicine 
at  Lewistown,  Fergus  county,  Montana. 

MUSICIAN  MARTIN  K.  DOBSON  was  born  at  Summum,  Ful- 
ton county,  Illinois,  March  23,  1843,  and  enlisted  from  his  native 
town.  At  the  organization  of  the  company  he  was  appointed 
musician;  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  He  captured  his  man  on  the  skirmish  line  in 
the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia.  He  resides  at  Lew- 
istown, 111.,  where  he  is  engaged  as  a  blacksmith  and  wagonmaker. 

WAGONER  BENJAMIN  BOLEN,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Maryland,  and  enlisted  from  Astoria,  111.  He  was  detailed  wag- 
oner at  the  outfitting  of  the  company;  served  through  the  Ken- 
tucky campaign  and  was  discharged  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  for  disa- 
bility, January  29,  1863.  Supposed  to  be  living  at  Carrollton,  Pick- 
ens  county,  Alabama. 

JOHN  BUSHNELL,  aged  twenty-four,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Pike  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Browning.  He  served  with 
his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  but  was  sent  to  the  hos- 

28 


458  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

pital  at  Alexandria,  Va.,  a  few  days  before  the  regiment  was  mus- 
tered out,  where  he  died  June  15,  1865.  His  remains  are  buried  at 
No.  3033,  in  the  national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

ANANIAS  P.  BUSHNELL,  aged  twenty-six,  married,  farmer, 
born  in  Indiana;  enlisted  from  Browning,  111.  Served  to  the  close 
of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

GEORGE  W.  BARNES,  aged  thirty-one,  married,  farmer,  born 
in  Harrison  county,  Indiana,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  was 
discharged  for  disability  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  January  29,  1863. 
But  aboiu  the  time  his  discharge  arrived  he  died  in  the  general 
hospital  in  that  city. 

JOEL  A.  BARNES  was  born  near  Astoria,  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois, January  6,  1844,  spent  the  early  years  of  his  life  on  a  farm, 
and  enlisted  from  Woodland.  He  participated  in  all  the  battles 
in  which  the  command  was  engaged;  served  to  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  attended  the 
English  and  German  college  and  the  business  college  at  Quincy, 
111.;  after  the  close  of  his  service  taught  school,  read  law  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar.  Has  been  justice  of  the  peace  and  served  as 
deputy  circuit  clerk.  He  resides  on  his  farm  at  Summum,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  deals  in  stock  and  serves  his  clients  when  they 
are  inclined  to  indulge  in  the  luxuries  of  the  law. 

CHARLES  R.  BRANSON  was  born  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Jeffer- 
son county,  Ohio,  January  13,  1836,  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois  in  1839,  settled  on  a  farm  in  Fulton  county  and  enlisted 
from  Woodland.  He  was  detached  with  the  ordnance  train  in  the 
Kentucky  campaign,  but  soon  returned  to  duty  with  his  company, 
was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  served  to  the 
close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  At  the 
close  of  his  service  he  returned  to  Illinois;  has  been  school  trustee 
and  is  a  merchant,  residing  at  Ipava,  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 

HENRY  BLOOMFIELD,  aged  twenty-five,  married,  farmer, 
born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  October  8,  1862,  and  died  in 
general  hospital  No.  14  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  11,  1863. 

JOHN  CUNNINGHAM,  aged  twenty-six,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Hancock  county,  Virginia,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  H.  459 

Vermont.  He  served  in  the  Kentucky  campaign  until  the  army 
reached  Bowling  Green,  where  he  died  in  the  hospital  November 
21,  1862.  His  brother,  William,  died  at  Louisville  in  October,  but 
another  brother,  Alexander,  served  in  Company  G  to  the  close  of 
the  war. 

WILLIAM  CUNNINGHAM,  aged  nineteen,  farmer,  born  in 
Hancock  county,  Virginia,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois, 
and  enlisted  from  Astoria.  He  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  October  17, 
1862,  and  is  buried  at  No.  186  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Cave 
Hill,  near  Louisville,  Ky. 

JOSEPH  CRABLE  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania, 
January  21,  1831,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1852,  and  settled  on  a  farm 
in  Fulton  county.  He  enlisted  from  Woodland;  served  through 
the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
February  3,  1863,  for  disability.  He  returned  to  Illinois,  resumed 
farming  and  now  resides  at  Astoria. 

WILLIAM  COLLINS,  aged  twenty-four,  married,  carpenter, 
born  in  Farmington,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from 
Woodland.  He  served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded 
on  the  firing  line  on  Pumpkin  Vine  creek,  Georgia.  The  shot  that 
wounded  him  also  wounded  John  W.  McLaren.  He  was  discharged 
for  disability  resulting  from  wounds,  December  20,  1864.  Is  sup- 
posed to  be  living  at  Shoo  Fly,  Johnson  county,  Iowa. 

JOSEPH  DAVIS  deserted  January  21,  1863. 

DANIEL  DUTTON  was  born  at  Hamersville,  Brown  county, 
Ohio,  October  3,  1837,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1850  and  was  single 
and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Woodland.  He  served  with 
his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  He  resumed  farming  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
resides  at  Bluff  City,  Schuyler  county,  Illinois. 

LEWIS  DIAL  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  May  30,  1844,  and 
with  his  parents,  Edward  R.  Dial  and  Delilah  Cramer,  removed  to 
Illinois  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Fulton  county.  He  enlisted  from 
Astoria;  served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded,  August 
5,  1864,  in  action  near  the  Sandtown  road  and  not  far  from  Atlanta. 
His  wound  disabled  him  for  further  service,  and  he  was  discharged 
at  Jefferson  barracks,  Missouri,  February  20,  1865.  Returning  to 
Astoria  he  taught  school  four  years,  when  suffering  from  his 


460  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

wound  forced  him  to  abandon  teaching  and  for  most  of  the  time 
since  he  has  lived  in  the  national  military  homes.  At  present  he 
is  an  inmate  of  the  National  Military  Home  at  Marion,  Ind. 

WILLIAM  F.  ELGIN,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in  As- 
toria, Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  his  native  town. 
He  served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  is  supposed  to  be  living  at 
Catlin,  111. 

JOHN  D.  FENTON  was  born  in  Augusta  county,  Virginia,  in 
1835,  and  removed  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  in  1837.  He  en- 
listed from  Astoria;  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the 
war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to 
Astoria,  where  he  has  served  the  public  as  drayman  ever  since.  He 
was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Ga,,  and  again 
in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  His 
address  is  Astoria,  111. 

WILLIAM  H.  FRIETLEY  was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Indi- 
ana, October  3,  1841,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in 
1849.  He  enlisted  from  Woodland;  served  with  his  company  to  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  September  1,  1864. 
He  returned  to  Illinois,  but  removed  to  Missouri  in  1878,  and  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Schuyler  county.  His  address  is  Jimtown, 
Schuyler  county,  Missouri. 

JEREMIAH  GORSAGE,  aged  ,  married,  farmer,  born    in 

Montgomery  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Browning.  He 
served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Browning,  111.,  resumed 
farming,  and  died  May  19,  1892. 

WILLIAM  C.  HUDNALL  was  born  in  Russellville,  Logan 
county,  Kentucky,  November  25,  1843,  removed  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois  in  1849,  and  settled  in  Astoria,  where  he  was  a  clerk  when 
he  enlisted.  He  served  with  his  company  until  the  spring  of  1864, 
when  he  was  mounted  and  served  at  brigade  headquarters  until 
the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Re- 
turning to  Astoria  he  became  a  harnessmaker,  and  was  tax  col- 
lector in  1892.  He  resides  in  Astoria,  111.,  but  is  sadly  afflicted 
with  catarrh  of  the  head,  which  baffles  medical  skill. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  H.  461 

JONATHAN  B.  HORTON  was  born  in  New  Castle,  Coshocton 
county,  Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois  at  an  early  day  and  was  a  farmer 
when  he  enlisted  from  Woodland,  in  Fulton  county.  He  was  forty- 
four  years  of  age;  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  ana 
was  discharged  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  January  19,  1863,  for  disability. 

MARION  HORTON,  aged  twenty-six,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Woodland;  was  slightly  wounded  at  Perry ville,  Ky.,  but  recovered 
and  served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  at  the  battle 
of  Buzzard  Roost,  Georgia,  February  25,  1864.  A  shell  which  did 
not  explode  struck  him  on  the  shoulder,  causing  a  wound  from 
which  he  never  entirely  recovered.  He  was  honorably  discharged 
from  the  hospital  at  Quincy,  111.,  soon  after  the  regiment  was  mus- 
tered out,  and  returned  to  his  former  home,  where  he  died  a  short 
time  after  the  close  of  the  war. 

WILLIAM  H.  HARRIS  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Browning, 
Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  June  5,  1841,  passed  his  early  years  on  a 
farm,  and  enlisted  from  Browning.  He  served  with  his  company 
through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  engaged 
until  captured  near  the  boundary  line  between  North  and  South 
Carolina,  March  3,  1865.  He  was  held  in  rebel  prisons  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  honorably  discharged  June  17,  1865.  He  is  a 
merchant  and  farmer,  and  resides  at  Browning,  111. 

CHARLES  A.  HUGHES,  aged  twenty,  farmer,  born  in  Wood- 
land, Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  his  native  town. 
He  served  with  his  company  until  failing  health  sent  him  to  the 
hospital  while  on  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  he  died  at  Ackworth, 
Ga.,  June  20, 1864. 

JULIUS  T.  HUGHE Y,  aged  twenty-six,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Astoria,  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  He  served  with  his  company 
until  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve  corps,  probably  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.,  but  the  record  does  not  give  the  date  of  transfer.  He 
was  honorably  discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  died  June 
18,  1883. 

SIMON  HEATON,  aged  twenty-seven,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  enlisted  from  Astoria,  111.  He  served  with  his 
company  until  captured  at  Louisville,  Ga.,  November  30,  1864. 
After  he  surrendered  he  was  shot  down  in  cold  blood  by  his  inhu- 
man captors.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  13681  in  the  national 
cemetery  at  Andersonville,  Ga. 


462  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

JACOB  HORN,  aged  twenty-six,  married,  farmer,  born  in  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton  county,  Illinois; 
served  with  his  company  until  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve 
corps,  probably  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  Date  not  given,  but  he  was 
honorably  discharged  from  that  organization,  and  resides  at  As- 
toria, 111. 

JAMES  WALTER  HUDNALL  was  born  in  Logan  county,  Ken- 
tucky, March  30,  1846,  removed  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  and 
enlisted  from  Astoria.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  During  the  night  march 
from  Buzzard  Roost,  Georgia,  to  McAffee  Church,  he  fell  through  a 
defective  bridge,  sustaining  injuries  which  finally  disabled  him 
for  service  in  the  ranks,  but  he  declined  to  apply  for  a  discharge 
from  the  service,  and  in  July,  1864,  he  was  detached  from  his  com- 
pany and  assigned  to  duty  as  an  orderly  at  brigade  headquarters, 
where  he  remained  to  the  close  of  the  war.  In  1874  he  turned  his 
attention  to  newspaper  work,  was  connected  with  papers  at 
Peoria,  Chicago  and  St.  Louis,  and  in  1883  went  to  work  as  city 
editor  of  the  Evening  Journal  at  Quincy,  111.  In  1885  he  was  ap- 
pointed to  a  position  in  the  United  States  treasury  department, 
and  has  since  been  continuously  in  that  branch  of  the  service.  He 
is  at  present  a  special  inspector  of  customs,  serving  on  the  Mexi- 
can frontier  with  headquarters  at  San  Antonio,  Texas. 

WILLIAM  H.  HULBURT  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  re- 
moved to  Illinois  in  December,  1855,  and  enlisted  from  Browning 
as  a  farmer.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  Is  in  poor  health  and  resides  at 
Havana,  111. 

HENRY  N.  HOWARD  was  born  at  Summum,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  April  12,  1844,  farmer,  and  enlisted  from  his  native  town. 
He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  Since  his  return  to  Illinois  he  has 
been  engaged  in  farming,  and  is  now  buying  poultry,  and  resides 
at  Astoria,  111. 

JOHN  B.  HAGAN  enlisted  from  Astoria,  111.;  served  through 
the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  January  28, 
1863.  Is  buried  at  No.  6717  in  the  national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

ALANSUS  P.  HULBURT,  born  in  Philadelphia,  Penn.,  enlisted 
from  Astoria,  III.;  was  transferred  to  Company  C,  Sixteenth  Illi- 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  H.  463 

nois  Infantry,  but  the  date  of  his  transfer  is  unknown.  He  was 
mustered  out  with  his  regiment  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  July  8,  1865. 
Supposed  to  be  living  at  Westerville,  Custer  county,  Nebraska. 

JAMBS  JAMESON,  aged  thirty-nine,  married,  farmer;  enlisted 
from  Pleasant,  111.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign 
and  was  discharged  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  3,  1863,  for  dis- 
ability. 

HENRY  J.  JOHNSON,  aged  thirty,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Centerville,  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  removed  to  Illinois, 
and  enlisted  from  Astoria.  He  served  with  his  company  until  cap- 
tured near  the  close  of  the  war;  was  exchanged,  and  honorably 
discharged  June  17,  1865. 

BENJAMIN  JELLISON,  aged  twenty-four,  married,  farmer, 
born  in  Mahoning,  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  removed  to  Illi- 
nois, and  enlisted  from  Astoria;  served  with  his  company  until  the 
close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Is  a 
farmer  and  resides  near  Astoria,  111. 

JOHN  F.  KINGERY,  aged  twenty-five,  married,  farmer,  born 
in  Woodland,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  his  native 
town.  He  served  with  his  company  until  near  the  close  of  the 
war.  but  was  sick  in  the  hospital  at  Chicago,  111.,  at  the  muster  out 
of  the  regiment.  He  was  honorably  discharged  soon  after;  is  a 
farmer  and  now  resides  near  Summum,  111. 

JOSIAH  H.  KELLEY  enlisted  from  Astoria,  111.;  served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign;  was  discharged  from  the  hos- 
pital at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  January  29,  1863,  for  disability,  but  was 
unable  to  travel  and  died  a  few  days  later,  and  is  buried  at  No. 
742  in  the  national  cemetery  there. 

RICHARD  LANE,  aged  thirty-nine,  married,  cabinet-maker, 
born  at  Putnam,  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois,  and 
enlisted  from  Astoria.  He  served  until  near  the  close  of  the  war, 
but  was  sick  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  when  the  regiment  was  mustered 
out.  He  was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  Illinois,  where 
he  died  in  September,  1894. 

HENRY  LOVEL,  aged  twenty-five,  married,  miller,  born  in 
Hamilton,  Ohio;  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was 
discharged  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  3,  1863,  for  disability. 

FRANCIS  M.  McKEE  was  born  at  Hamersville,  Clermont  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  December  17,  1835,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1854,  and  was  a 


464  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Astoria;  served  with  his  company 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign;  was  detailed  in  Captain  Pow- 
ell's scouts  in  March,  1863,  and  served  with  that  command,  and  at 
division  and  corps  headquarters  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  After  returning  to  Illinois 
he  removed  to  Iowa  and  engaged  in  farming.  Now  resides  at 
Troy,  Davis  county,  Iowa. 

SOLOMON  MEYERS  was  born  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1842,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1855,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  en- 
listed from  Astoria.  Was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
October  8,  1862.  Upon  his  recovery  and  his  return  to  his  company 
he  was  detailed  as  ambulance  driver;  served  to  the  close  of  the  war 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Upon  his  return  to  Illi- 
nois he  resumed  farming,  but  since  1894  has  been  retired  and  re- 
sides at  Astoria,  111. 

JOHN  W.  McLAREN,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in  Wood- 
land, Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  his  native  town. 
He  served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  twice  wounded — once  at 
Pumpkin  Vine  creek,  near  Dallas,  Ga.,  and  soon  afterwards  re- 
turned to  duty  at  Florence,  Ala.  He  returned  to  Illinois  and  re- 
sumed farming  near  Summum,  where  he  died  not  many  years  after 
the  close  of  the  war. 

GEORGE  W.  MEEK  enlisted  from  Kerton,  111.;  served  with  his 
company  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  January  15,  1863,  for  disability.  He  resides  at 
Colchester,  McDonough  county,  Illinois. 

GEORGE  W.  NEWBERRY  was  born  in  Astoria,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  April  16,  1844,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland.  He  served 
with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  hit  three  times  with  spent  balls. 
Upon  his  return  to  Illinois  he  studied  medicine  and  began  to  prac- 
tice at  Smithfield  in  1884.  He  has  been  president  of  the  village 
board  for  eight  consecutive  terms.  His  address  is  Smithfield,  Ful- 
ton county,  Illinois. 

WILLIAM  OSBORN,  aged  forty,  married,  farmer,  born  in  Co- 
shocton  county,  Ohio;  sorved  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois,  aud^-e- 
sumed  farming  hear  Astoria,  where  he  died  in  1882. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  H.  465 

JOEL  PALMER,  aged  nineteen,  farmer,  born  at  Oxford,  Tus- 
carawas  county,  Ohio;  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in 
1852,  and  enlisted  from  Astoria.  He  served  with  his  company 
until  the  command  reached  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  where  his  health 
failed,  and  he  was  discharged  January  10,  1863,  for  disability.  He 
is  reported  to  be  living  at  Fair  Play,  Polk  county,  Missouri. 

JOHN  R.  POWELL,  plasterer,  married,  born  in  Adams  county, 
Ohio,  March  5,  1833,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1835  and  enlisted  from 
Astoria.  He  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga, 
but  served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  in  the  as- 
sault on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  He  was  hon- 
orably discharged  August  12,  1865.  He  has  long  been  a  minister 
in  the  United  Brethren  church,  and  resides  at  Sheldon's  Grove, 
Schuyler  county,  Illinois. 

MARTIN  V.  PLANK  was  born  on  a  farm  near  Astoria,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  December  10,  1841,  and  enlisted  from  his  native 
town.  He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  His  brother,  Francis  M., 
served  through  the  war  in  Company  G.  Is  farming  near  Astoria, 
Illinois. 

MARTIN  V.  PARKER,  aged  twenty-five,  married,  carpenter, 
born  at  Jefferson,  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  As- 
toria, 111.  Served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Is  reported  to  be  living  at 
Murray ville,  Morgan  county,  Illinois. 

JOHN  H.  PERKINS  was  born  at  Fort  Madison,  Iowa,  Novem- 
ber 27,  1832,  and  with  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois  in  1836.  He 
enlisted  from  Browning;  served  with  his  company  until  1864,  when 
he  was  transferred  to  the  engineer  corps  and  was  honorably  dis- 
charged at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  June  30,  1865.  Has  been  constable  of 
Oakland  township,  and  resides  at  Ray,  Schuyler  county,  Illinois. 

MICHAEL  ROGERS,  aged  thirty-three,  married,  farmer,  born 
in  Hardin  county,  Kentucky,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  111.  He 
served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  Upon  his  return  to  Illinois,  resumed 
farming,  and  died  near  Baders  in  about  1895. 

LEMUEL  J.  SAYRES  was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  in 
1840,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1844,  and  was  living 
on  a  farm  near  Astoria  when  he  enlisted.  Was  slightly  wounded 


466  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  but  served  with  his  company  to 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Is 
a  farmer,  and  resides  at  Browning,  Schuyler  county,  Illinois. 

HENRY  C.  SWISHER  was  born  at  Staunton,  Augusta  county, 
Virginia,  September  16,  1843,  and  removed  to  Illinois  with  his 
parents  in  1856;  enlisted  from  Astoria,  and  served  with  his  com- 
pany through  the  Kentucky  campaign.  At  Nashville,  Tenn.,  he 
was  detailed,  mounted  and  served  at  brigade  and  division  head- 
quarters until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  He  was  in  the  party  of  scouts  who  captured  the  rebel 
prisoners  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  as  related  in  Chapter  X, 
and  also  the  hero  of  the  rescue  as  narrated  in  Chapter  XVII.  He 
was  tax  collector  in  Astoria  township  in  1886,  was  sheriff  of  Osage 
county,  Kansas,  from  1891  to  1895.  Is  a  merchant,  and  resides  at 
Lyndon,  Osage  county,  Kansas. 

JOHN  B.  SHIELDS,  aged  twenty-six,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Harrison  county,  Indiana,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from 
Lewistown.  He  served  with  his  company  until  near  the  close  of 
the  war,  but  was  absent  (sick)  at  the  muster  out  of  the  regiment. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  hospital  at  Chicago,  111., 
and  is  supposed  to  be  living  at  Massena,  Cass  county,  Iowa, 

FRANCIS  M.  SHRIER  deserted  September  14,  1862. 

WILLIAM  SEVERNS  was  born  in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  Octo- 
ber 8,  1845,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1856,  and  en- 
listed as  a  farmer  from  Astoria,  111.  He  served  with  his  company 
until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia, 
June  27,  1864,  but  soon  returned  to  duty.  His  two  sons,  Charles 
W.  and  Edward  H.,  aged  respectively  sixteen  and  twenty,  served 
through  the  war  with  Spain.  A  cousin,  Marion,  of  Company  G, 
was  killed  at  Kennesaw  Mountain,  and  Eli,  a  brother  or  cousin, 
was  severely  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia. 
He  is  a  carpenter  and  builder,  residing  at  Clayton,  St.  Louis  coun- 
ty, Missouri. 

ELI  SEVERNS,  aged  thirty,  married,  farmer,  born  in  Jefferson, 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from 
Astoria.  He  served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  Georgia,  July  19,  1864.  He  was  dis- 
charged on  account  of  wounds  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  May  19,  1865. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  H.  467 

He  returned  to  Illinois,  but  later  removed  to  Missouri,  where  he 
finally  died  from  the  effects  of  his  wounds,  at  Mound  City,  Mis- 
souri, August  9,  1896. 

ROBERT  SNODGRASS,  aged  twenty-six,  married,  farmer,  born 
in  Harrison  county,  Indiana,  and  enlisted  from  Brooklyn,  Schuyler 
county,  Illinois.  He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the 
war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Some  years  after 
his  return  to  Illinois  he  removed  to  Kansas,  where  he  died  August 
4, . 

JAMES  SALSBURY,  aged  forty-three,  married,  farmer,  born 
in  Vanderburg  county,  Indiana,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted 
from  Woodland.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign  and 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  was  transferred  to  the  engineer  corps.  He 
was  honorably  discharged  from  that  organization  at  the  close  of 
the  war.  He  returned  to  Illinois,  resumed  farming,  and  died  in 
Fulton  county  in  about  1895. 

GEORGE  W.  SHAW,  aged  thirty-four,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Baltimore,  Md.,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  111.  He  served  with 
his  company  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nash- 
ville, Tenn.  Is  buried  at  No.  169  in  the  national  cemetery  near 
that  city. 

JOHN  M.  SAPPER,  aged  twenty-three,  married,  farmer,  born 
at  Boon,  Harrison  county,  Indiana.  He  served  with  his  company 
until  killed  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June 
27,  1864.  He  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 

BENJAMIN  F.  SHIELDS  was  born  in  Woodland,  Fulton  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  in  March,  1843,  and  enlisted  from  his  native  town.  He 
served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  Returning  to  Illinois  he  engaged  in  farm- 
ing in  Knox  county,  where  he  served  as  constable  from  1873  to 
1881.  Since  1889  he  has  resided  at  Bushnell,  McDonough  county, 
Illinois. 

NATHAN  SHANNON  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  in 
1833,  and  with  his  parents  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Fulton  county;  was  married  and  a  farmer  when  he  en- 
listed from  Astoria.  He  served  with  his  company  through  the 
Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  May 
19,  1863.  Returning  to  his  former  home  he  resumed  farming  near 


468  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

Astoria,  but  later  removed  to  Schuyler  county.  Is  residing  at 
Ray,  111. 

JOHN  A.  THOMPSON,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  at  Keen, 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Woodland,  111.  He 
served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  in  the  assault  on 
Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  and  died  of  wounds  at  Chattanooga, 
Tenn.,  July  7,  1864.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  11830  in  the 
national  cemetery  on  Orchard  Knob  near  that  city. 

CHARLES  C.  TURNER  deserted  November  14,  1862. 

JOHN  THARIO,  aged  nineteen,  farmer;  enlisted  from  Astoria, 
and  was  born  in  Vermont,  111.  He  served  until  near  the  close  of 
the  war,  when  he  was  captured  and  held  in  rebel  prisons  until 
after  the  regiment  was  mustered  out.  He  was  honorably  dis- 
charged July  22,  1865,  returned  to  Illinois,  and  is  said  to  be  living 
in  Tazewell  county. 

WILLIAM  TIERY,  aged  twenty-five,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Adair  county,  Kentucky,  and  enlisted  from  Butlerville,  Schuyler 
county,  Illinois.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and 
died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  August  13,  1863.  Is  buried  at  No.  713 
in  the  national  cemetery  near  that  place. 

JAMES  P.  ADDIS  was  born  at  Tecumseh,  Lenawee  county, 
Michigan,  February  25,  1845,  and  enlisted  from  Astoria,  111.,  under 
the  name  of  James  T.  Toler.  When  a  child  too  young  to  know 
his  own  name  his  father  died  and  he  was  left  with  a  neighbor's 
family.  This  family  removed  to  Indiana,  and  from  there  the  boy 
was  taken  by  another  family  to  Illinois,  and  for  several  years  lived 
with  Dr.  W.  T.  Toler,  of  Astoria.  Here  he  was  known  as  Toler, 
and  here  he  enlisted  under  that  name.  He  served  with  his  com- 
pany to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. While  the  command  was  at  North  Chickamauga,  during 
the  siege  of  Chattanooga,  he  learned  his  real  name,  and  that  his 
mother  was  still  living.  He  obtained  a  furlough  and  visited  her 
during  that  winter.  He  was  wounded  in  the  fight  at  Buzzard 
Roost,  Georgia,  February  25,  1864,  receiving  a  gun  shot  wound 
which  carried  away  the  index  finger  of  his  left  hand.  Since  the 
close  of  the  war  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  in  Illinois,  Colo- 
rado and  Oklahoma.  Now  resides  at  Lindon,  Cleveland  county, 
Oklahoma. 

ARDEN  WHEELER  was  born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  May 
8,  1839,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1852,  and  settled  on 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  H.  469 

a  farm  in  Fulton  county.  He  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Astoria; 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  Returning  to  Illinois  at  the  close  of  his  service,  he  re- 
sumed farming,  and  resides  near  Astoria,  111. 

THOMAS  WHEELER,  aged  forty-one,  born  in  Brooke  county, 
Virginia,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Astoria,  111.  His  health 
soon  failed,  and  he  was  discharged  for  disability,  October  30,  1862. 
He  returned  to  Astoria,  111.,  and  died  April  15,  1889. 

DANIEL  WORLEY  was  born  at  Athens,  Harrison  county, 
Ohio,  August  7,  1832,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1851,  and  settled  on  a 
farm  near  Astoria,  where  he  enlisted.  He  served  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  was 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862,  by  the 
concussion  of  a  cannon;  was  teamster  for  some  considerable  time, 
and  returned  to  farming  in  Illinois  at  the  close  of  his  service.  He 
now  resides  at  Macomb,  McDonough  county,  Illinois. 

FREDERICK  F.  ZELLERS  was  born  at  Myerstown,  Bucks 
county,  Pennsylvania,  November  30,  1832,  removed  to  Illinois  in 
1X50,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Fulton  county.  He  enlisted  from 
Woodland,  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga, 
Ga.,  but  served  with  his  company  until  severely  wounded  and  cap- 
tured in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864. 
In  the  charge  he  leaped  the  enemy's  works  and,  badly  wounded, 
fell  into  their  hands.  He  was  confined  in  Andersonville  prison 
until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  honorably  discharged  June  27, 
1865.  He  settled  in  North  Dakota  in  1881,  has  been  coroner  of 
Stark  county  for  four  terms,  and  now  resides  at  Taylor,  in  that 
county  and  state. 

JOHN  W.  SNODGRASS  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton  coun- 
ty, Illinois,  and  served  with  his  company  until  failing  health  sent 
him  to  the  hospital  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  where  he  died  October 
8,  1863. 

JAMES  W.  SAFFER  enlisted  from  Woodland,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  January  27,  1864;  served  with  the  company  until  the  regi- 
ment was  mustered  out,  when  he  was  transferred  to  Company  C, 
Sixteenth  Illinois  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  out  with  that  regi- 
ment July  8,  1865,  at  Louisville,  Ky  . 


470  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 


Company  I  was  enrolled  by  William  H.  Marble 
under  date  of  August  i,  1862,  in  that  part  of  Fulton 
county  bordering  on  the  Illinois  river.  The  records  of 
the  company  show  that  they  were  carelessly  kept,  and 
are  very  defective  in  many  respects. 

The  company  was  organized  at  Marble's  mills  by  the 
election  of  the  following  commissioned  officers:  Wil- 
liam H.  Marble,  captain;  David  M.  Holstead,  first  lieu- 
tenant, and  Hugh  McHugh,  second  lieutenant. 

One  man  was  killed  in  action,  and  12  were  wounded 
who  lived  beyond  the  close  of  the  war,  4  officers  re- 
signed, 2  were  mustered  out  with  the  regiment  and  one 
was  promoted,  18  men  were  discharged,  n  died  of  dis- 
ease, 5  were  transferred  and  21  returned  home  at  the 
close  of  the  war. 

In  the  individual  sketches  which  follow  an  attempt  is 
made  to  give  a  concise  statement  of  the  history  of  each 
member  of  the  company,  each  of  whom  may  look  back 
with  pride  upon  the  results  of  the  war,  and  rejoice  in  the 
fact  that  it  was  his  privilege  to  bear  an  honorable  part  in 
the  great  struggle  for  freedom. 

THE   COMPANY   ROSTER. 

CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  H.  MARBLE  was  born  at  Albion,  Kenne- 
beck  county,  Maine,  in  1837,  and  was  married  and  residing  at 
Marbletown,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  when  he  recruited  the  com- 
pany which  became  Company  I  of  the  Eighty-fifth.  At  the  organi- 
zation of  the  company  he  was  elected  captain,  and  commanded  it 
through  the  Kentucky  and  Murfreesboro  campaigns.  He  resigned 
his  commission  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  9,  1863  for  disability, 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  I.  471 

and  went  home.     The  writer  has  been  unable  to  learn  anything 
concerning  him  since  he  left  the  regiment. 

CAPTAIN  DAVID  M.  HOLSTBAD  was  born  at  Vienna,  Oneida 
county,  New  York,  July  10,  1837,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1856,  was 
married,  and  a  brickmaker  at  Havana  when  he  enlisted.  He  was 
elected  first  lieutenant  at  the  organization  of  the  company;  served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  promoted  captain  April 
9,  1863.  He  commanded  the  company  through  the  Tennessee  cam- 
paign, which  ended  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga,  Ga.,  September 
19-20,  1863,  where  he  was  slightly  wounded.  He  resigned  for  dis- 
ability on  October  7,  1863,  and  returned  to  Illinois.  He  resided  at 
Keithsburg,  111.,  from  1873  to  1892,  when  he  removed  to  Clayton, 
Adams  county,  Illinois,  where  he  now  resides. 

CAPTAIN  ALBERT  O.  COLLINS  was  born  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  July  16,  1836,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1856,  was  married  and  a 
farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Sheldon's  Grove.  At  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  company  he  was  chosen  first  sergeant,  and  promoted 
second  lieutenant  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  9,  1863.  He  was  pro- 
moted to  be  captain  October  7,  1863;  commanded  the  company 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. After  the  close  of  the  war  he  removed  to  Missouri,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1873,  when  he  removed  to  Cali- 
fornia. Since  1873  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
raising  near  Laws,  Inyo  county,  California.  He  was  married  in 
Illinois  in  1861;  has  five  children,  three  sons  and  two  daughters,  all 
grown  and  doing  for  themselves. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  ALBERT  P.  BRITT  enlisted  from 
Mason  City,  111.,  in  Company  E,  Twenty-seventh  Illinois  Infantry, 
August  12,  1861,  and  at  the  organization  of  that  company  was 
chosen  sergeant.  He  served  with  his  company  until  promoted 
second  lieutenant  of  Company  I,  February  9,  1863,  and  on  June  2, 
1863,  he  was  promoted  to  be  first  lieutenant.  He  served  with  his 
company  until  October  27,  1863,  when  he  resigned  his  commission 
and  retired  to  private  life.  He  died  March  7,  1877. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  PRESTON  C.  HUDSON  promoted  adju- 
tant. (See  field  and  staff.) 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  EDMUND  CURLESS,  aged  thirty-one, 
married,  farmer,  born  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from 
Kerton.  He  was  appointed  wagoner  at  the  organization  of  the 


472  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

company;  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  He  was  promoted  to  be  first  lieutenant  July 
23,  1864,  and  was  mustered  out  with  that  rank.  At  the  close  of 
his  service  he  returned  to  Illinois,  resumed  farming,  and  died  near 
Bluff  City,  111.,  September  3,  1894. 

SE5COND  LIEUTENANT  HUGH  McHUGH  was  born  in  Chester 
county,  Pennsylvania,  but  had  removed  to  Illinois,  and  was  a  mar- 
ried farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Kerton,  in  Fulton  county,  at 
the  age  of  forty-five.  He  was  elected  second  lieutenant  at  the 
organization  of  the  company;  served  through  the  Kentucky  and 
Mnrfreesboro  campaigns,  and  resigned  on  account  of  failing  health 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  9,  1863.  Returning  to  Illinois,  he 
engaged  in  farming  until  1884,  when  he  removed  to  Kansas.  He 
died  at  Independence,  in  Montgomery  county,  March  20,  1896,  the 
Grand  Army  post  officiating  at  his  funeral.  He  left  two  sons — 
Robert  and  Stephen,  but  their  address  is  unknown  to  the  writer. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  ROBERT  MULLICA,  aged  twenty-four, 
married,  farmer,  born  in  Coles  county,  Missouri,  and  enlisted  from 
Duncan's  Mills,  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  He  served  with  his  com- 
pany through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was  en- 
gaged; was  promoted  from  fifth  sergeant,  to  which  position  he  was 
chosen  at  the  organization  of  the  company,  to  be  first  sergeant, 
and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  is  a  merchant  and 
resides  at  Duncan's  Mills,  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 

SERGEANT  ABRAHAM  A.  CAMERON,  aged  forty-one,  mar- 
ried, stonecutter,  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  enlisted  from  Sum- 
mum,  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  He  served  with  his  company  until 
July  31,  1864,  when  he  was  transferred  to  the  engineer  corps. 
Nothing  is  known  of  his  subsequent  career. 

SERGEANT  LABAN  V.  TARTER,  aged  twenty-four,  single, 
farmer,  born  in  Clay  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Berna- 
dotte,  Fulton  county.  He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perryville, 
Ky.,  October  8,  1862,  by  a  gun  shot  through  the  thigh  and  was 
discharged  for  disability  July  21,  1864.  Returned  to  Illinois;  was 
married  three  times,  and  went  to  California,  where  he  died  in 
about  1893. 

SERGEANT  JOHN  E.  RENO  was  born  at  Fredericksburg, 
Harrison  county,  Indiana,  October  28,  1837,  and  with  his  parents 
removed  to  Illinois  in  1844.  He  enlisted  from  Marietta,  Fulton 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  I.  473 

county,  Illinois,  as  a  farmer;  was  chosen  sergeant  at  the  organi- 
zation of  the  company,  and  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga,  Ga.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  promoted  first  sergeant 
August  15,  1864,  but  the  muster  out  roll  failed  to  give  him  this 
rank.  He  is  a  farmer;  has  been  school  director  for  eighteen  years, 
and  resides  at  Table  Grove,  111. 

SERGEANT  LEONIDAS  COLLINS  was  born  in  Coshocton 
county,  Ohio,  July  3,  1841,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1861,  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Fulton  county,  and  enlisted  from  Kerton.  He  was  chosen 
corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  company;  promoted  sergeant, 
and  served  with  his  company  until  August  28,  1864,  when  he  was 
transferred  to  the  engineer  corps.  He  served  in  that  organization 
to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
July  1,  1865.  He  removed  to  Missouri  in  1868,  and  is  a  prosperous 
farmer  in  Putnam  county.  His  address  is  St.  John,  Mo. 

SERGEANT  JAMES  MOSLANDER,  aged  twenty-three,  single, 
farmer,  born  in  Virginia,  and  enlisted  from  Summum,  111.  He  was 
chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  company;  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Perry ville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862;  promoted  ser- 
geant; served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He  resides  at  Havana,  111. 

SERGEANT  NEAL  P.  HUGHES,  aged  twenty-five,  married, 
farmer,  born  in  Holmes  county,  Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois  and  en- 
listed from  Summum,  111.  He  served  with  his  company  until  the 
close  of  the  war;  was  promoted  to  sergeant;  wounded  at  the  battle 
of  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  September  1,  1864,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  He  resumed  farming  upon  his  return  from  the  war, 
and  died  near  Summum,  111.,  October  3,  1879. 

SERGEANT  LEMUEL  WELKER  was  born  in  Knox  county, 
Ohio,  August  20,  1835,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1857,  and  enlisted  as  a 
farmer  from  Summum.  He  served  with  his  company  until  the 
close  of  the  war;  was  promoted  sergeant;  was  wounded  at  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  Ga.,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. He  resumed  farming  upon  his  return  and  died  near  As- 
toria, 111.,  April  2,  1899. 

CORPORAL  JEREMIAH  COKLEY,  aged  twenty-three,  single, 
farmer,  born  in  Hocking  county.  Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  en- 
listed from  Bernadotte;  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of 

29 


474  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

the  company;  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was 
discharged  for  disability  at  Nashville,  Tenn.    Date  unknown. 

CORPORAL  WILLIAM  LANDON  was  born  in  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  April  27,  1841,  farmer,  and  enlisted  from  Duncan's  Mills. 
He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  company; 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. He  is  farming  near  Ponca  City,  Kay  county,  Oklahoma. 

CORPORAL  JOHN  W.  BELLES,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born 
in  Arkansas,  and  enlisted  from  Duncan's  Mills,  111.  He  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
Is  said  to  be  living  at  Cedarvale,  Chautauqua  county,  Kansas. 

CORPORAL  AZARIAH  THOMAS,  aged  thirty-one,  farmer, 
born  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Duncan's  Mills, 
111.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  company, 
and  was  transferred  to  Company  K,  Sixtieth  Illinois  Infantry,  but 
no  date  of  transfer  is  given.  He  was  mustered  out  July  13,  1865. 
He  is  said  to  be  living  near  Havana,  111. 

CORPORAL  CHARLES  G.  MATTHEWS  was  born  in  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  May  2,  1843,  was  a  farmer,  and  enlisted  from 
Duncan's  Mills,  111.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization 
of  the  company,  was  slightly  wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw 
Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war, 
Mountain,  June  27,  1864,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war  and  was 
mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Removed  to  Kansas  in  1892,  and 
to  Oklahoma  in  1898.  Is  farming  at  Renfrew,  in  Grant  county. 

CORPORAL  MILO  BUTLER,  aged  twenty-nine,  single,  farmer, 
born  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio;  removed  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted 
from  Kerton.  He  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the 
company;  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment. 

CORPORAL  WILLIAM  A.  GRAHAM,  aged  twenty-three,  sin- 
gle, farmer,  born  in  Washington,  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  and  en- 
listed from  Duncan's  Mills,  111.  He  was  promoted  to  be  corporal; 
served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment. 

CORPORAL  SOLOMON  MARKEL,  aged  thirty-two,  married, 
farmer,  born  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania;  removed  to  Illinois 
and  enlisted  at  Duncan's  Mills.  He  was  promoted  corporal; 
served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  I.  475 

teed  out  with  the  regiment.  A  few  years  since  he  was  living  at 
Goodland,  Sherman  county,  Kansas,  but  his  present  address  is 
unknown. 

CORPORAL  ISAAC  RICHARDSON  was  born  at  Warsaw,  Cos- 
hocton,  county,  Ohio,  May  6,  1831;  removed  to  Illinois  in  1858,  was 
married  and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Summum.  He  was 
promoted  corporal;  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  Since  the  war  he  has  been  engaged 
in  farming  and  resides  near  Bluff  City,  Schuyler  county,  Illinois. 

CORPORAL  JOHN  TRAYER,  aged  forty-three,  married, 
farmer;  enlisted  from  Summum,  111.  Was  promoted  corporal! 
served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  He  died  near  Lewistown,  111.,  April  24, 
1897. 

CORPORAL  JOHN  WATSON  was  born  near  Frankfort,  Frank- 
lin county,  Kentucky,  December  15,  1837;  removed  to  Indiana  in 
1838,  and  to  Illinois  in  1845.  He  was  a  boatman  when  he  enlisted 
from  Havana.  He  was  promoted  corporal;  served  with  his  com- 
pany to  the  close  of  the  war,  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle 
of  Perryville,  Kentucky,  October  8,  1862,  and  at  Kennesaw  Moun- 
tain, Georgia,  June  27,  1864,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. He  is  a  carpenter  and  builder,  and  resides  at  807  Millman 
street,  Peoria,  111. 

MUSICIAN  THOMAS  BURBIGE,  aged  eighteen,  farmer,  born 
in  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Manito,  in  Mason  county.  He  was 
appointed  musician;  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and 
died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  January  1,  1863.  Is  buried  at  No.  5754, 
in  the  national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

MUSICIAN  WILLIAM  McCAUSLAND,  aged  eighteen,  black- 
smith, born  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Kerton. 
He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged 
for  disability  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  February,  1863.  Resides  in 
Havana,  111. 

LINCOLN  AMSDEN,  aged  forty-three,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Framingham,  Middlesex,  county,  Massachusetts;  removed  to  Illi- 
nois, and  enlisted  from  Kerton.  He  was  discharged  at  Louisville, 
Ky.,  for  disability,  but  the  date  of  his  discharge  does  not  appear 
on  the  records. 


476  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

WILLIAM  BELLES,  aged  twenty-three,  married,  farmer,  born 
in  Missouri,  and  enlisted  from  Otto,  Fulton  county,  Illinois.  He 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment. 

ZEBULON  BRANSON,  aged  forty;  enlisted  from  Otto,  111. 
Deserted.  So  says  the  report  of  the  adjutant  general  of  Illinois, 
but  it  does  not  show  that  he  was  ever  mustered  into  the  service. 
The  fact  is  that  he  enlisted  as  a  private  August  15,  1862,  in  Com- 
pany I,  One  Hundred  and  Third  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  mus- 
tered into  the  service  October  2,  1862.  He  was  promoted  second 
lieutenant  of  his  company  February  4,  1863,  and  was  killed  in  the 
assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  When 
the  writer  learned  of  this  record,  he  wrote  to  the  adjutant  general 
of  Illinois,  asking  if  something  could  not  be  done  to  render  jus- 
tice to  the  memory  of  this  soldier  who  died  fighting  valiantly  for 
his  country,  but  that  officer  did  not  appear  willing  to  do  anything. 

JACOB  H.  BETHMAN,  deserted;  time  and  place  not  given. 

JOHN  COKLEY,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in  Hocking 
county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Bernadotte,  111.  He  served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
January  18,  1863. 

CHARLES  CAIN,  aged  twenty-eight,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Edinburgh,  Scotland;  emigrated  to  America,  settled  in  Mason 
county,  and  enlisted  from  Havana,  111.  He  served  through  the 
Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  The  adjutant 
general's  report  says,  "Discharged  July  31,  1864."  But  the  super- 
intendent of  the  national  cemetery  at  Nashville  claims  that  he  is 
buried  at  No.  11140,  in  the  cemetery  under  his  charge. 

FILROY  CODMER,  deserted,  but  neither  time  nor  place  is 
given. 

GEORGE  DINGLES,  aged  forty-three,  married,  blacksmith, 
born  in  Schuylkill  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  enlisted  from  Bath, 
Mason  county,  Illinois.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
the  fact  that  he  was  mustered  out  June  22,  1865,  seems  to  indicate 
that  he  had  been  sick,  detached  or  a  prisoner,  when  the  regiment 
was  mustered  out. 

THOMAS  FRAZEE,  aged  twenty-three,  married,  farmer;  en- 
listed from  Kerton,  111.,  and  served  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign. He  died  in  the  general  hospital  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Janu- 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  I.  477 

ary  1,  1863,  and  is  buried  at  No.  5092,  in  the  national  cemetery 
near  that  city. 

HENRY  FATCHCRAFT,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in 
St.  Louis  county,  Missouri,  and  enlisted  from  Otto,  111.  He  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. 

JOHN  D.  FANTIN  appears  to  have  been  mustered  in,  but  no 
further  record. 

SANFORD  GILSON,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Otto.  He  served  through  the 
Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  from  the  general  hos- 
pital at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  March,  1863.  He  returned  to  Illinois, 
and  is  said  to  be  living  at  Ipava. 

JOSEPH  E.  GRAFF,  aged  nineteen,  farmer,  born  in  Lancas- 
ter county  Pennsylvania,  and  enlisted  from  Washington,  111.  He 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment. 

VINSON  GRAY,  aged  thirty-two,  married,  farmer;  enlisted 
from  Duncan's  Mills.  Served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign, 
and  was  discharged  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  but  the  date  of  his  dis- 
charge nowhere  appears. 

ISAAC  HORTON,  aged  twenty-eight,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Summum,  111.  Was 
discharged  for  disability  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  in  October,  1862. 

WILSON  HUGHES,  aged  thirty-six*  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Virginia,  and  enlisted  from  Otto,  111.  Served  through  the  Ken- 
tucky campaign  until  the  command  arrived  at  Bowling  Green, 
where  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  and  died  in  November,  1862. 

JOSIAH  HALE,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in  Madison 
county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Otto,  111.  Served  with  his  com- 
pany until  captured  near  the  close  of  the  war,  was  exchanged,  and 
honorably  discharged  June  19,  1865.  He  resides  near  Summum, 
Fulton  county,  Illinois. 

JOHN  Q.  HOLMES  was  born  in  Lawrence  county,  Indiana, 
November  14,  1825;  removed  to  Illinois  in  1848,  was  married,  and  a 
farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Otto,  111.  He  served  through  the 
Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  transferred  to  the  Veteran  Reserve 
corps  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  1863,  and  served  in  that  organization 


478  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

at  Rock  Island  and  Chicago,  111.,  until  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
was  mustered  out  at  Chicago,  111.,  July  1,  1865.  He  was  justice  of 
the  peace,  tax  collector,  and  served  as  assessor  three  terms,  after 
his  return  to  Illinois.  He  removed  to  Kansas  in  1891,  and  engaged 
in  farming  in  Sumner  county,  and  resides  at  South  Haven,  in  that 
county. 

THOMAS  HASKEY,  born  in  England;  deserted  at  Louisville, 
Kentucky. 

BENJAMIN  JONES,  deserted. 

SYLVESTER  KELLER,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in 
Cuba,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Bernadotte.  He 
served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  died  in  July,  1893. 

JOHN  KYRO,  deserted. 

JOHN  LAPOOL  was  born  in  Strongstown,  Indiana  county, 
Pennsylvania,  December  24,  1839;  removed  to  Illinois  in  1859,  and 
was  farming  in  Fulton  county  when  he  enlisted  from  Kerton.  He 
served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  settled  on  a  farm  in  West  Vir- 
ginia at  the  close  of  his  service,  and  now  resides  at  Laclede,  Cab- 
ell  county,  West  Virginia. 

WILLIAM  LOVELL,  deserted. 
SAMUEL  LOW,  deserted. 

WILLIAM  MINNER  was  born  at  Walhonding,  Coshocton 
county,  Ohio,  September  5,  1840;  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois in  1846,  and  was  farming  near  Summum  when  he  enlisted. 
He  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862, 
and  was  honorably  discharged  in  March,  1864.  Soon  after  his  dis- 
charge he  removed  to  Montana,  and  engaged  in  farming  near 
Big  Timber,  in  Short  Grass  county,  but  was  living  at  Sheridan, 
Wyo.,  when  he  died  in  1898. 

JOHN  MINNER  was  born  in  Walhonding,  Coshocton  county, 
Ohio,  June  4,  1842;  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1846, 
and  was  farming  in  Fulton  county  when  he  enlisted  as  a  recruit 
from  Summum,  February  8,  1864.  He  was  slightly  wounded  in  the 
fighting  near  the  Sandtown  road,  in  the  campaign  against  Atlanta, 
Ga.,  and  is  marked  absent  without  leave  at  the  muster  out  of  the 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  I.  479 

regiment.    He  removed  to  Montana  in  1886,  is  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock  raising  near  Rockvale,  in  Carbon  county,  Montana. 

ELLIS  MOORE  was  born  in  Green  county,  Illinois,  April  12, 
1845,  and  was  farming  near  Havana,  in  Mason  county,  when  lie 
enlisted  as  a  recruit,  January  5,  1864.  He  served  with  his  com- 
pany until  wounded  in  the  assault  on  the  enemy's  works  at  Jones- 
boro,  Ga.,  September  1,  1864,  and  was  absent  (sick)  at  the  muster 
out  of  the  regiment.  He  was  honorably  discharged  at  Camp  But- 
ler, 111.,  June  8,  1865,  and  returned  to  Illinois.  In  1886  he  removed 
to  Kansas  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Chautauqua  county,  his 
address  being  Sedan,  Chautauqua  county,  Kansas. 

JOSEPH  E.  MOORE,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in  Mis- 
souri, and  enlisted  from  Kerton,  111.  He  served  with  his  company 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. He  is  reported  to  have  died  April  4,  1895. 

EDWARD  McCROSKEY,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  on 
Salt  creek,  Decatur  county,  Indiana,  and  enlisted  from  Duncan's 
Mills,  111.  He  served  in  the  Kentucky  campaign  until  the  com- 
mand reached  Bowling  Green,  where  he  fell  sick  and  died  in 
December,  1862. 

WILLIAM  H.  PHILLIPS,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in 
Coles  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Summum,  in  Fulton 
county.  Served  with  his  company  until  February  11,  1864,  when 
he  was  transferred  to  the  engineer  corps.  He  is  reported  to  be 
living  at  Vermont,  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 

JAMES  H.  PIERCY,  deserted. 

EBEN  PAUL,  aged  'twenty-two;  enlisted  from  Summum. 
Served  with  his  company  until  February  3,  1863,  when  he  was 
discharged  for  disability. 

SAMUEL  PAUL,  aged  twenty-five;  enlisted  from  Summum. 
Served  with  his  company  until  February  3,  1863,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged for  disability. 

THOMAS  J.  ROYES,  aged  twenty-three,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Adams  county,  Ohio;  enlisted  from  Summum,  in  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  and  the  record  says,  "Discharged  in  October,  1862."  In 
fact,  he  died  October  18,  1862,  and  is  buried  at  No.  835,  in  the 
national  cemetery  at  Cave  Hill,  near  Louisville,  Ky. 


480  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

GEORGE  W.  RITSWOLD,  deserted. 
THOMAS  RAMSEY,  deserted. 
THOMAS  J.  STATTS,  deserted. 
GEORGE  SANDERS,  deserted. 

MILTON  STODDARD,  aged  thirty-four,  married,  farmer;  en- 
listed from  Bernadotte,  111.  Served  through  the  Kentucky  cam- 
paign, and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  March  25,  1863.  Is  buried  at 
No.  265,  in  the  national  cemetery  near  that  city. 

WILLIAM  H.  SMITH,  deserted. 

CHARLES  G.  SWIFT,  aged  thirty-seven;  place  of  enlistment 
not  stated.  Served  with  his  company  until  July  31,  1864,  when, 
according  to  the  adjutant  general's  report,  he  was  discharged. 
But  as  a  matter  of  fact,  he  died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  January  19, 
1864,  and  is  buried  at  No.  1863,  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Cave 
Hill,  near  that  city. 

COLAND  STEWART,  deserted. 
WILLIAM  D.  SPENT,  deserted. 

GEORGE  TYRA,  aged  twenty-eight,  married,  blacksmith,  born 
in  Kentucky,  and  enlisted  from  Duncan's  Mills,  111.  Served  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 

OLIVER  TRAPP,  aged  thirty-one,  married,  cooper;  enlisted 
from  Otto,  111.  Served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  9,  1863.  .  Is  buried  at  No.  6443,  in 
the  national  cemetery  near  that  place. 

AUSTIN  WALKER,  aged  thirty-one,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Duncan's  Mills.  Served 
with  his  company  until  killed  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Moun- 
tain, Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  8758, 
in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

ALBERT  WINCHELL,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in  Ful- 
ton county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Duncan's  Mills.  Served 
with  his  company  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  dis- 
charged for  disability  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  in  August,  1863. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  I.  481 

JASPER  WILCOX,  opposite  his  name  on  the  muster-out  roll 
is  written  the  word — died.  Date  of  birth,  place  of  residence  at 
enlistment,  and  date  and  place  of  death  are  omitted. 

WILLIAM  MARKLEY,  enlisted  from  Summum,  and  was  dis- 
charged in  October,  1862.  That  is  all  the  record  discloses  relating 
to  this  soldier. 

JOHN  H.  MOORE,  enlisted  from  Vermont,  Fulton  county,  Illi- 
nois, January  5,  1864,  and  was  discharged  May  13,  1865.  That 
appears  to  be  all  they  had  time  to  write  about  him. 

WILLIAM  OSBORN;  this  name  stands  upon  the  muster-out 
roll  without  any  comment  whatever. 


482  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI. 


Company  K  was  enrolled  by  Dr.  Robert  G.  Rider  at 
Topeka,  in  Mason  county,  between  July  18  and  August 
17,  1862.  The  men  were  mostly  farmers  from  Mason 
county,  although  Iroquois,  McDonough,  Peoria,  Ste- 
phenson,  Tazewell  and  Will  counties  were  represented 
in  its  ranks.  At  the  organization  of  the  company  the 
following  commissioned  officers  were  elected :  Dr. 
Robert  G.  Rider,  captain ;  Samuel  Yates,  first  lieutenant, 
and  Isaac  C.  Short,  second  lieutenant. 

Of  the  89  officers  and  men  of  which  this  company 
was  composed,  22  were  hit  with  shot  or  shell,  4  of  whom 
were  killed  in  action,  while  18  lived  to  be  discharged  or 
mustered  out,  i  officer  resigned,  29  men  died  of  disease, 
14  were  discharged  for  disability  incident  to  their  hard 
service,  5  were  transferred  to  other  organizations,  and  45 
were  present  at  the  final  muster  out. 

From  first  to  last  the  company  was  ably  commanded, 
and  being  one  of  the  skirmish  companies  was  well  drilled 
in  that  special  drill  in  addition  to  the  usual  drill  of  the 
others.  The  men  were  above  the  average  in  intelli- 
gence, and  the  surviving  members  of  the  company  may 
justly  feel  proud  of  the  part  it  bore  in  its  three  years'  ser- 
vice, and  all  may  rejoice  in  the  fact  that  they  did  their 
full  share  in  the  overthrow  of  the  slave-holders'  rebel- 
lion. 

THE   COMPANY   ROSTER. 

CAPTAIN  ROBERT  G.  RIDER  (promoted  major.  See  field 
and  staff). 

CAPTAIN  SAMUEL  YATES  was  born  in  Fletcher,  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  in  1831,  removed  to  Illinois,  was  married  and  a 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  K.  483 

wheelwright  when  he  enlisted  from  Topeka,  in  Mason  county.  He 
had  been  active  in  recruiting,  and  at  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany was  elected  first  lieutenant.  He  served  in  that  capacity 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign  and  was  promoted  captain  at 
Nashville,  Tenn.,  April  6,  1863.  From  this  time  until  the  close  of 
the  war  he  commanded  the  company,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  At  the  close  of  his  service  he  returned  to  Topeka 
and  resumed  work  at  his  trade,  but  was  killed  by  a  boiler  explo- 
sion within  a  few  years  of  the  close  of  the  war. 

FIRST  LIEUTENANT  ISAAC  C.  SHORT  was  born  in  Page 
county,  Virginia,  November  21,  1831,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1860, 
and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Mason  county.  He  enlisted  from  Topeka 
and  probably  recruited  more  men  for  Company  K  than  any  other 
one  man.  He  was  elected  second  lieutenant  at  the  organization 
of  the  company;  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was 
promoted  first  lieutenant  April  6,  1863,  at  Nashville,  Tenn.  He 
served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to  Missouri  in  October, 
1865,  where  he  engaged  in  farming  and  engineering.  He  served  as 
marshal  of  Montgomery  City  for  seven  years,  and  now  resides  at 
Old  Orchard,  Saint  Louis  county,  Missouri. 

SECOND  LIEUTENANT  ELI  F.  NEIKIRK  enlisted  as  a  pri- 
vate; served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  he  was  promoted  second  lieutenant  under  date  of  April  6, 
1863.  He  served  in  that  position  until  November  4,  1864,  when  he 
resigned  on  account  of  failing  health.  Returning  to  Illinois  he 
engaged  in  business  as  a  merchant  at  Forest  City,  where  he  died 
in  about  1880. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  ROBERT  F.  REASON,  aged  twenty-three, 
single,  farmer,  born  in  Waynesville,  Warren  county,  Ohio,  and 
enlisted  from  Havana,  111.;  was  chosen  first  sergeant  at  the  organ- 
ization of  the  company,  but  fell  sick  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  and  died 
October  22,  1862.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  863  in  the  hal- 
lowed ground  of  the  national  cemetery  at  Cave  Hill  near  Louis- 
ville, Ky. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  JOHN  N.  HOLE,  aged  thirty-two,  single, 
clerk,  born  at  Salem,  Washington  county,  Indiana,  and  enlisted 
from  Havana,  111.  He  was  chosen  second  sergeant  at  the  organi- 
zation of  the  company;  promoted  first  sergeant;  served  through 
the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  at 


484  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  3,  1863.  Returning  to  Illinois  he  be- 
came a  merchant  in  Bath;  removed  to  Belvidere,  Neb.,  where  he 
sold  goods  for  several  years,  and  then  removed  to  Norton,  Norton 
county,  Kansas,  where  he  was  a  merchant  when  he  died  a  few 
years  since. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  SMITH  B.  HORSEY,  aged  twenty-seven, 
single,  minister,  born  in  Circleville,  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  re- 
moved to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Forest  City  as  a  private.  He 
served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
was  promoted  first  sergeant.  In  this  position  he  served  with  his 
company  until  killed  in  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  September  1, 
1864.  Is  buried  at  No.  3285  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta, 
Georgia. 

FIRST  SERGEANT  WILLIAM  H.  HOLE  was  born  in  Salem, 
Washington  county,  Indiana,  April  13,  1836,  removed  to  Illinois 
in  1856,  and  settled  on  a  farm  in  Mason  county.  He  enlisted  from 
Havana,  and  was  chosen  sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany; served  through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment 
was  engaged;  was  promoted  first  sergeant  at  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  At  the  close  of  his  service 
he  returned  to  Illinois,  and  is  among  the  prosperous  farmers  of 
Mason  county.  He  resides  at  Mason  City,  111. 

SERGEANT  JOHN  S.  WALKER,  aged  twenty-one,  single, 
farmer,  born  in  Shelby ville,  Shelby  county,  Indiana;  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Havana.  He  served  with  his  company 
until  discharged  at  Chattanooga,  Tenn.,  May  20,  1864,  for  disabil- 
ity. Upon  returning  to  Illinois  he  read  medicine  and  began  to 
practice  at  Forest  City,  where  he  died,  but  the  date  of  his  death  is 
unknown  to  the  writer. 

SERGEANT  A.  A.  CARRINGTON  was  born  in  Mount  Carmel, 
Fleming  county,  Kentucky,  in  1836;  removed  to  Illinois,  and  was 
farming  in  Mason  county  when  he  enlisted  from  Topeka.  He  was 
chosen  sergeant  at  the  organization  of  the  company;  served  with 
his  company  through  all  the  campaigns  in  which  the  regiment  was 
engaged,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Upon  his  re- 
turn to  Illinois  he  resumed  farming,  and  now  resides  at  Manito, 
Illinois. 

SERGEANT  WILLIAM  MASTERSON,  aged  twenty-two,  sin- 
gle, farmer,  born  in  Hagerstown,  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  and  en- 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  K.  485 

listed  from  Forest  City,  111.  He  was  transferred  to  the  Fourth 
United  States  Cavalry  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  1,  1862.  His 
subsequent  career  is  unknown. 

SERGEANT  CHARLES  POND  was  born  in  Menard  county, 
Illinois,  Novem'ber  9,  1841,  and  enlisted  from  Pekin,  in  Tazewell 
county.  He  was  appointed  wagoner,  but  was  mounted  and  served 
two  years  of  his  term  at  brigade  and  division  headquarters.  He 
was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Jonesboro,  Ga.,  but  soon  returned  to 
duty;  was  promoted  sergeant,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois,  married 
Rebecca  A.  Shu'bert  at  Havana  in  1866,  and  in  1869  removed  to 
Nebraska.  He  is  a  prosperous  farmer  in  Richardson  county,  and 
resides  near  Shu'bert,  Neb. 

SERGEANT  CHARLES  ERICK  was  born  in  the  Kingdom  of 
Sweden,  October  10,  1834,  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1854,  and  was  a . 
farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Havana.  He  was  promoted  ser- 
geant August  1,  1864;  served  through  all  the  campaigns  in  which 
the  command  was  engaged,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. He  removed  to  Iowa  and  engaged  in  farming  in  Henry 
county,  where  he  owns  his  land.  He  now  writes  his  name  Charles 
E.  Hult,  and  his  address  is  Swedesburgh,  Henry  county,  Iowa. 

SERGEANT  ADAM  J.  HIMMILL,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer, 
born  in  Baden,  Germany,  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from 
Topeka.  He  was  promoted  sergeant;  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Upon  returning  to 
Illinois  he  engaged  in  farming  near  Topeka,  where  he  committed 
suicide  in  a*bout  1867. 

CORPORAL  THOMAS  JEMMISON,  aged  nineteen,  farmer, 
born  in  Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  and  enlisted  from  Havana,  111.  Was 
chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  company;  served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn., 
December  20,  1862.  Is  buried  at  No.  6069  in  the  national  cemetery 
near  that  city. 

CORPORAL  JOSEPH  BODLE,  aged  thirty,  farmer,  enlisted 
from  Havana,  111.;  was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the 
company;  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to  Nebraska  in  1875,  and  engaged 
in  farming  near  Pawnee  City,  and  died  there  in  1892. 


486  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

CORPORAL  WILLIAM  K.  ROSE,  aged  thirty-two,  was  chosen 
corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  company;  served  until  sent  to 
the  hospital  at  Danville,  Ky.,  where  he  died  November  8,  1862.  Is 
buried  at  No.  47  in  the  national  cemetery  at  that  place. 

CORPORAL  JOHN  M.  DURHAM,  aged  thirty-two,  was  chosen 
corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  company,  and  served  until  the 
command  reached  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  when  he  was  sent  to  the 
hospital,  and  died  there  January  22,  1863.  His  remains  are  buried 
at  No.  10526  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

CORPORAL  ROMEO  MAGILL,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born 
in  Springfield,  111.,  and  enlisted  from  Topeka.  Was  chosen  cor- 
poral at  the  organization  of  the  company,  and  served  until  sent  to 
the  hospital  at  Danville,  Ky.,  where  he  died  December  8,  1862.  Is 
buried  at  No.  302  in  the  national  cemetery  at  that  place. 

CORPORAL  JAMES  JIMMISON,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born 
in  Boundbrook,  Somerset  county,  New  Jersey,  and  enlisted  from 
Havana,  111.  Was  chosen  corporal  at  the  organization  of  the  com- 
pany, and  served  until  killed  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Moun- 
tain, Georgia,  June  27,  1864. 

CORPORAL  ORPHEUS  AMES  was  born  in  Canton,  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  March  5,  1840,  and  was  farming  when  he  enlisted 
from  Topeka,  in  Mason  county.  He  was  wounded  at  Buzzard 
Roost,  Georgia,  February  25,  1864,  and  again  near  Atlanta.  Was 
promoted  corporal,  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  His  arm  is  yet  stiffened  from  the 
first  wound.  He  is  engaged  in  farming  in  Oklahoma,  his  address 
being  Alba,  Woods  county,  Oklahoma. 

CORPORAL  GEORGE  N.  HOPPING  was  born  in  Aurora,  Dear- 
born county,  Indiana,  December  19,  1843;  removed  with  his  par- 
ents to  Illinois  in  1851,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from 
Topeka.  He  served  with  his  company  through  all  the  campaigns 
in  which  the  command  was  engaged;  was  promoted  corporal,  and 
was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Returning  to  Illinois  at  the 
close  of  the  war,  he  engaged  in  farming  until  1890,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Nebraska.  He  is  a  prosperous  and  progressive  farmer, 
and  resides  at  Beaver  City,  Furnas  county,  Nebraska. 

CORPORAL  GEORGE  HETZELER  was  born  in  Germantowu, 
Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  November  12,  1829,  removed  to  Illinois 
in  1850,  and  settled  at  Bunker  Hill,  where  he  was  farming  when  he 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  K.  487 

enlisted.  He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war; 
was  wounded  at  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June 
27,  1864;  promoted  to  be  corporal,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  He  returned  to  his  home  at  Bunker  Hill,  111.;  has  been 
alderman  of  his  town,  and  constable  at  Mason  City,  111.  He  re- 
sides at  Bunker  Hill,  Macoupin  county,  Illinois. 

CORPORAL  WILLIAM  H.  MASSEY,  aged  twenty,  farmer,  was 
born  in  Hagerstown,  Washington  county,  Maryland,  removed  to 
Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Topeka.  He  served  with  his  company 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  having  in  the  meantime  been  promoted 
corporal,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  After  the  close 
of  the  war  he  removed  to  Missouri,  and  i*  supposed  to  be  living  at 
or  near  Long  Branch,  Monroe  county. 

CORPORAL  CONRAD  NUHN,  aged  twenty-four,  single,  farm- 
er, born  in  Germany,  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Gil- 
man,  in  Iroquois  county.  He  served  with  his  company  until  killed 
in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864.  Is 
buried  at  No.  9309  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Marietta,  Ga. 

CORPORAL  ZIMRI  N.  THOMAS,  aged  twenty-one,  clerk,  born 
in  Columbus,  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  and  enlisted  from  Havana, 
111.  Was  promoted  corporal;  slightly  wounded  in  the  fight  at 
Buzzard  Roost,  Georgia,  February  25,  1864;  served  to  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  After  the  close 
of  his  service,  he  settled  at  Oxford,  Benton  county,  Indiana,  where 
he  died  within  recent  years. 

CORPORAL  SOLOMON  WEIDEMAN,  aged  twenty-one,  farm- 
er, born  in  Switzerland,  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from 
Topeka.  He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war;  was 
promoted  corporal,  and  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  After 
the  war  he  engaged  in  farming  near  Manito,  111.,  and  was  accident- 
ally killed  in  1891  by  his  reaper  running  over  him. 

CORPORAL  WILLIAM  H.  WAGONER,  aged  twenty-one,  farm- 
er, born  in  Fredericktown,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois, 
and  enlisted  from  Havana.  He  served  with  his  company  to  the 
close  of  the  war;  was  promoted  corporal,  and  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  He  is  a  farmer,  and  now  resides  at  Olathe,  Johnson 
county,  Kansas. 

MUSICIAN  JAMES  B.  DURDY  (promoted  principal  musician. 
See  field  and  staff). 


488  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

MUSICIAN  GEORGE  HOAGLAND,  aged  thirty-three;  served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  for  disability 
at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  3,  1863.  He  settled  at  Topeka,  111., 
where  he  died  in  about  1868. 

CLARK  N.  ANDRUS  (promoted  adjutant.     See  field  and  staff). 

GEORGE  ANDREWS,  aged  twenty-five,  carpenter,  born  in 
Hessia,  Germany,  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Wood- 
ford  county.  He  appears  to  have  been  wounded  while  in  the  ser- 
vice, but  the  writer  has  been  unable  to  fix  the  time  and  place.  He 
served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. Is  supposed  to  be  dead. 

WILLIAM  L.  BECK  was  born  in  Piqua,  Miami  county,  Ohio, 
April  23,  1844,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1855,  and 
was  farming  near  Mason  City  when  he  enlisted.  He  served  with 
his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  He  is  now  farming  at  Rogers,  Benton  county,  Ar- 
kansas. 

WESLEY  C.  BLAKELEY,  aged  twenty-three,  single,  farmer, 
born  in  Havana,  Mason  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Topeka. 
He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  March  7,  1863.  Is  buried  at  No.  887  in  the  national  ceme- 
tery near  that  place. 

JOHN  M.  BARR,  aged  eighteen,  farmer,  born  in  Pekin,  Taze- 
well  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Havana.  Served  through 
the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February 
26,  1863,  and  is  buried  at  No.  928  in  the  national  cemetery  near 
that  place. 

JEFFERSON  BOWERS,  aged  eighteen,  farmer,  born  in  Indian- 
apolis, Ind.,  and  enlisted  from  Havana,  111.  He  was  severely 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862,  and  was 
discharged  for  disability  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  February  28,  1863.  He 
died  in  about  1896. 

NELSON  BURR,  aged  twenty-seven,  married,  farmer,  born  in 
Jefferson  county,  New  York,  and  enlisted  from  Peoria,  111.    He 
served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  transferred  to 
the  invalid  corps  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  September  1,  1863.    He  was 
honorably  discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  when  last  heard 
from  was  living  at  Knoxville,  Tenn. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  K.  489 

JOSEPH  R.  CHAPLAIN,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in 
Washington,  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  enlisted  from 
Havana,  111.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  a  brick  layer,  and  resided 
until  some  two  years  ago  at  Parsons,  Labette  county,  Kansas,  but 
now  resides  at  Everett,  Snohomish  county,  Washington. 

DAVID  B.  COLGLAZIER,  aged  thirty-three,  enlisted  from 
Havana,  111.;  served  in  the  Kentucky  campaign  until  the  com- 
mand reached  Danville,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital,  and  died 
December  9,  1862.  His  remains  are  buried  at  No.  337  in  the  na- 
tional cemetery  at  Danville,  Ky. 

GEORGE  H.  COTTRELL,  aged  nineteen,  farmer,  born  in 
Peoria,  111.,  and  enlisted  from  Forest  City.  Adjutant  general's  re- 
port says:  "Supposed  dead.  Last  heard  from  at  Harrodsburg, 

Ky.,  October  ,  1862."    His  surviving  comrades  say  "That  he 

fell  sick  just  after  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  and  was  cared  for 
at  a  farm  house.  While  convalescing  he  over  ate,  and  died  in  a 
relapse." 

ROBERT  L.  DURDY  (promoted  principal  musician.  See  field 
and  staff). 

GEORGE  DRAKE  was  born  in  Plainfield,  Union  county,  New 
Jersey,  April  5,  1846,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in 
1852.  He  enlisted  from  Topeka;  served  through  the  Kentucky 
campaign,  and  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  was  detailed  for  two  months 
to  man  the  heavy  artillery  in  the  defenses.  Was  for  a  time 
mounted  at  brigade  headquarters,  but  returned  to  his  company, 
and  was  twice  wounded  on  the  Atlanta  campaign — once  at  Kenne- 
saw  Mountain,  June  27,  1864,  and  again  in  the  fight  for  the  Sand- 
town  road.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  After  the  end  of  his  service  he  learned  the 
blacksmith's  trade,  and  in  1874  removed  to  Iowa,  where  he  has 
since  conducted  that  business.  He  resides  at  Clinton,  Clinton 
county,  Iowa. 

WILLIAM  H.  EVANS,  aged  twenty-three,  born  in  St.  Clairs- 
ville,  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Havana,  111.  Served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  for  disabil- 
ity at  Edgefield,  Tenn.,  November  25,  1862. 

JACOB  ELLER,  aged  twenty-four,  single,  farmer,  born  in  Ger- 
many, and  enlisted  from  Groveland,  Tazewell  county,  Illinois.  He 


490  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.     He  is  supposed  to  be  dead. 

ISAAC  FOUNTAIN  was  born  in  Spalding,  Lincolnshire,  Eng- 
land, March  26,  1838,  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1859,  was  married 
and  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Forest  City.  He  served  with 
his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war;  was  twice  wounded — once 
in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Ky.,  October  8,  1862,  and  again  in  the 
fight  at  Buzzard  Roost,  Georgia,  February  25,  1864.  He  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment,  and  in  1874  he  removed  to  Nebraska 
and  engaged  in  farming  in  Franklin  county.  Has  been  assessor, 
and  for  fourteen  years  a  notary  public.  His  address  is  Upland, 
Franklin  county,  Nebraska. 

JOHN  FRANK,  aged  eighteen,  farmer,  born  in  Germany,  emi- 
grated to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Mason  City.  He  served  to  the 
close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  He 
resides  at  Chaflin,  Barton  county,  Kansas. 

WILLIAM'  GURNBELL,  aged  twenty-four,  single,  farmer,  born 
in  Germany,  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Forest  City. 
He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  Was  farming  near  Warsaw,  111.,  where  he  died  Febru- 
ary 15,  1890. 

BENJAMIN  H.  GROVER,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in 
Stark  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Topeka,  111.  He  served  in 
the  Kentucky  campaign  until  the  regiment  reached  Bowling 
Green,  where  he  fell  sick  and  died  January  5,  1863.  Is  buried  at 
No.  10909  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

ABNER  D.  GRIFFIN,  aged  twenty-six,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Piqua,  Miami  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Mason  City,  111.  He 
served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  December  19,  1862.  Is  buried  at  No.  4322  in  the  national 
cemetery  near  that  place. 

ISAAC  N.  GRIFFIN,  aged  eighteen,  farmer,  born  at  Way, 
Miami  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Mason  City,  111.  He  served 
until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. He  died  February  2,  1891. 

ROBERT  C.  GARRISON,  aged  eighteen,  farmer,  born  at  Cape 
May,  N.  J.,  and  enlisted  from  Mason  City,  111.  He  served  with  his 
company  until  killed  in  the  fight  at  Buzzard  Roost,  Georgia,  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1864. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  K.  491 

JAMES  GRANT,  aged  twenty-three,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Albany,  N.  Y.,  and  enlisted  from  Secor,  Woodford  county,  Illinois. 
He  died  at  Peoria,  111.,  September  8,  1862,  his  being  the  first  death 
in  the  regiment. 

BENJAMIN  HIBBS,  aged  twenty-eight,  single,  farmer,  born  at 
Catawassa,  Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  enlisted  from 
Havana,  111.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  Was  a  farmer  near  Poplar  City,  111., 
where  he  died  in  about  1890. 

CHARLES  E.  HITCHCOCK,  aged  eighteen,  farmer,  born  at 
Zanesville,  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Havana, 
111.  He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign  and  was  dis- 
charged for  disability  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  February  3,  1863.  Was 
living  in  Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  until  about  a  year  ago.  Is  supposed 
to  be  in  Arizona. 

EPHRAIM  HOPPING  was  born  near  Aurora,  Dearborn  county, 
Indiana,  April  29,  1846,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in 
1860,  and  enlisted  from  Topeka.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  but  was  absent  (sick)  when  the  regiment  was  mustered  out. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  hospital  at  Camp  Butler, 
111.,  but  never  entirely  regained  his  health.  He  spent  some  twenty 
years  in  the  South,  and  was  living  at  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  July,  1896. 

DANIEL  T.  JONESON,  aged  thirty,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Berrytown,  Kent  county,  Delaware,  and  enlisted  from  Havana, 
111.  He  served  until  captured,  probably  about  Chattanooga,  Tenn., 
but  time  and  place  are  unknown,  and  died  in  Libby  prison  at  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  February  4,  1864.  He  is  supposed  to  be  buried  among 
the  unknown  dead  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Richmond,  Va. 

WILLIAM  H.  JIMMISON,  aged  twenty-five,  single,  farmer, 
born  in  Rockport,  Mo.,  and  enlisted  from  Havana,  111.  He  served 
until  the  regiment  reached  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  when  he  was  sent 
to  the  hospital  and  was  discharged  for  disability  January  1,  1863. 
The  pension  office  reports  his  death,  but  gives  neither  date  nor 
place. 

JOSEPH  E.  JACKSON  was  born  in  St.  Petersburg,  Clarion 
county,  Pennsylvania,  October  30,  1844,  removed  with  his  parents 
to  Illinois  in  1852,  and  was  farming  when  he  enlisted  from  Topeka. 
He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 


492  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

regiment.  He  was  slightly  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro, 
Tenn.  He  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Miami,  in  the  Indian  Ter- 
ritory. 

JAMBS  A.  KBLSOE,  aged  twenty-five,  married,  farmer,  born 
in  Canton,  Fulton  county,  Illinois;  enlisted  from  Peoria;  served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  transferred  to  the  in- 
valid corps  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  September  1,  1863.  Was  honor- 
ably discharged,  and  was  living  near  Hesston,  Harvey  county, 
Kansas,  when  last  heard  from. 

WILLIAM  McKILLIP,  aged  eighteen,  farmer,  born  at  Liberty, 
Union  county,  Indiana,  and  enlisted  from  Havana,  111.  He  served 
through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  was  discharged  at  Benton 
barracks,  Missouri,  for  disability,  February  24,  1863.  He  is  said  to 
be  living  at  Belvidere,  Thayer  county,  Nebraska. 

HENRY  F.  MOHLENBRINK  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany, 
January  13,  1843,  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1849, 
and  was  a  clerk  when  he  enlisted  from  Havana,  111.  He  served 
with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war;  was  twice  wounded — 
once  at  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia,  June  27,  1864, 
and  again  near  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regi- 
ment. Since  the  war  he  has  served  as  township  trustee  and  as 
assessor.  He  removed  to  Kansas  in  1879  and  engaged  in  farming 
in  Marshall  county  and  in  1898  removed  to  Oklahoma,  and  is  farm- 
ing near  Cropper,  Garfield  county,  Oklahoma. 

FRITZE  MOHLENBRINK,  cousin  of  above,  was  born  in  Han- 
over, Germany,  in  1843,  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from 
Havana.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment. 

JOSIAH  McKNIGHT  was  born  in  Piqua,  Miami  county,  Ohio, 
May  24,  1843,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1849,  and  was 
a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  City.  He  served  with  his 
company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  but  was  severely  wounded  at 
Buzzard  Roost,  Georgia,  February  25,  1864,  by  a  gun  shot  through 
both  thighs.  He  returned  to  duty  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  He  returned  to  his  former  home,  and  is  a  prominent 
farmer  at  Mason  City,  111. 

LESTER  N.  MORRIS  was  born  near  Saint  Paris,  Champaign 
county,  Ohio,  February  15,  1844,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illi- 
nois in  1856,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Topeka.  He 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  K.  493 

served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war;  was  slightly 
wounded  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  and  was  mustered  out  with 
the  regiment.  Since  the  war  ended  he  has  engaged  in  farming 
and  carpenter  work,  and  is  now  janitor  of  the  public  school  build- 
ing at  Lincoln,  Logan  county,  Illinois. 

ALFRED  T.  MORRIS,  aged  twenty-six,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Carysville,  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  and  enlisted  from  Peoria, 
111.  He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment. 

CHARLES  MORRIS,  aged  twenty-two,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Manchester,  Adams  county,  Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted 
from  Topeka.  He  served  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  Is  said  to  reside  at  Havana,  111. 

JACOB  H.  PRETTYMAN  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  July 
30,  1845,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1845,  and  enlisted 
from  Havana.  He  served  with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the 
war;  was  wounded  in  the  assault  on  Kennesaw  Mountain,  Georgia, 
June  27,  1864,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  At  the 
close  of  his  service  he  returned  to  Illinois,  and  is  an  architect  and 
builder  residing  at  Peoria. 

ADONIRAM  ROBINSON  was  born  in  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  October 
27,  1836,  and  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1851.  He  first 
enlisted  from  Havana,  August  1,  1861,  in  Company  A,  Twenty- 
eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  and  was  discharged  for  disability  Novem- 
ber 9,  1861.  He  again  enlisted  from  Havana,  and  served  in  Com- 
pany K  until  discharged  for  disability  at  Nashville,  Tenn.,  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1863.  He  afterward  enlisted  and  served  in  Company  L, 
Twelfth  Missouri  Cavalry,  until  in  1866,  when  he  was  honorably 
discharged.  He  was  a  printer  before  the  war  and  since  has  been 
a  reporter  on  various  papers.  He  settled  in  Elgin,  111.,  in  1885,  and 
still  regards  that  place  as  his  home,  but  is  now  an  inmate  of  the 
National  Military  Home  at  Leavenworth,  Kan. 

JOHN  RAKESTRAW,  aged  twenty-three,  single,  farmer,  born 
in  Warren  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Havana.  He  died  at 
Louisville,  Ky.,  January  28,  1863. 

CHARLES  P.  RIDDLE,  aged  nineteen,  farmer,  born  in  Ger- 
many, emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Topeka.  He  fell 
sick  on  the  Kentucky  campaign;  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Bowl- 


494  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

ing  Green,  where  he  died  November  27,  1862.    Is  buried  at  No. 
10673  in  the  national  cemetery  at  Nashville,  Tenn. 

HORACE  F.  REASON  was  born  in  Waynesville,  Warren  coun- 
ty, Ohio,  July  23,  1845,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1861, 
and  enlisted  from  Havana.  He  served  with  his  company  until  the 
last  year  of  the  war,  when  he  was  detached,  and  served  as  orderly 
at  General  Morgan's  headquarters  until  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  Returning  to  Illinois  he  settled  at  Mason  City,  where 
he  has  been  mayor,  member  of  the  county  board  for  ten  years,  and 
is  now  a  member  of  the  county  central  committee.  Address, 
Mason  City,  111. 

WILLIAM  RAMIGE  was  born  in  Mohawk,  Herkimer  county, 
New  York,  August  17,  1841,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois 
in  1848,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Pekin.  He  served 
with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to  Iowa  in  1875  and  engaged  in 
farming  in  Calhoun  county.  His  address  is  Rockwell  City,  Cal- 
houn  county,  Iowa. 

ABRAM  SHELABARGER  was  born  in  Lima,  Allen  county, 
Ohio,  October  3,  1840,  removed  with  his  parents  to  Illinois  in  1856, 
and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Topeka.  He  served  with  his  com- 
pany until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  He  removed  to  Nebraska  in  1877,  and  has  been  farm- 
ing in  Furnas  county  ever  since.  His  address  is  Beaver  City,  Neb. 

JOHN  W.  SHELABARGER,  aged  twenty,  farmer,  born  in 
Lima,  Allen  county,  Ohio,  removed  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  and 
enlisted  from  Topeka.  He  served  with  his  company  until  cap- 
tured near  Lee  and  Gordon's  mills,  Georgia,  in  the  spring  of  1864, 
was  exchanged,  returned  to  duty,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  He  is  farming  near  Pawnee  City,  Pawnee  county,  Ne- 
braska. 

JAMES  A.  STONE  was  born  in  Washington,  Washington  coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he  enlisted  from  Ha- 
vana, 111.,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  He  served  with  his  company 
until  captured  near  Leet's  tanyard,  Georgia,  in  the  spring  of  1864; 
was  exchanged  and  honorably  discharged  May  12,  1865.  He  re- 
moved to  Missouri  soon  after  the  close  of  the  war,  and  is  farming 
near  Madison,  in  Monroe  county. 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  K.  495 

MOSES  SHAW,  aged  twenty-seven,  enlisted  from  Havana,  and 
died  at  Louisville,  Ky.,  November  17,  1862.  His  remains  are  bur- 
ied in  the  national  cemetery  at  Cave  Hill,  Kentucky,  at  No.  1047. 

HENRY  SPILLMAN,  aged  twenty-one,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Danville,  Pa.,  and  was  farming  when  he  enlisted  from  Topeka,  111. 
He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mus- 
tered out  with  the  regiment.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned 
to  Illinois  and  resumed  farming,  but  was  a  resident  of  Cheyenne 
county,  Kansas,  when  he  died  October  9,  1887. 

JOHN  SEIBENBORN,  aged  twenty-two,  single,  farmer,  born  in 
Germany,  and  enlisted  from  Topeka,  111.  He  served  with  his  com- 
pany until  he  fell  sick  on  the  Atlanta  campaign,  and  died  in  the 
field  hospital  at  Dallas,  Ga.,  May  28,  1864. 

MICHAEL  SPEIGHT,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in  Taze- 
well  county,  Illinois,  and  enlisted  from  Groveland.  While  on  the 
Kentucky  campaign,  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital  at  Harrodsburg, 
where  he  died  October  30,  1862.  Is  buried  at  No.  359  in  the  na- 
tional cemetery  at  Camp  Nelson,  Ky. 

EVERARD  TEGARD,  aged  nineteen,  farmer;  enlisted  from 
Starfield,  111.,  but  was  born  in  Jefferson,  Green  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. Of  this  soldier  the  muster  out  roll  says,  "Supposed  to  be 
dead.  Last  heard  from  at  Danville,  Ky.,  November ,  1862." 

DAVID  PATTERSON  VAN  HORN  was  born  in  Piqua,  Miami 
county,  Ohio,  February  4,  1842,  removed  to  Illinois  with  his  par- 
ents in  1857,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Mason  City.  He  served 
with  his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out 
with  the  regiment.  He  removed  to  Iowa,  where  he  has  prospered 
as  a  farmer;  owns  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  and  resides  near 
Cotter,  in  Louisa  county. 

JAMES  M.  WHITTAKER  was  born  in  Canton,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  August  28,  1844,  and  enlisted  as  a  farmer  from  Topeka. 
He  served  with  his  company  to  the  close  of  the  war;  was  wounded 
in  the  battle  at  Buzzard  Roost,  Georgia,  but  recovered;  returned 
to  duty,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment.  Since  the  war 
he  has  been  farming,  and  in  1891  he  removed  to  Nebraska,  and 
now  resides  at  Beaver  City,  in  Furnas  county. 

HENRY  WENT,  aged  twenty-five,  single,  farmer,  enlisted  from 
Topeka,  111.,  but  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany.  He  served  with 
his  company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with 


496  HISTORY  OF  THE  85TH  ILLINOIS. 

the  regiment.    At  the  end  of  his  service  he  settled  in  Chicago, 
where  he  died  in  about  1892. 

JOHN  B.  WRIGHT  (was  promoted  adjutant.  See  field  and 
staff). 

DAVID  ZENTMIRE  was  born  in  Oregoiiia,  Warren  county, 
Ohio,  September  27,  1840,  removed  to  Illinois  in  1861,  and  was 
farming  when  he  enlisted  from  Mason  City.  He  served  with  his 
company  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  the 
regiment.  He  returned  to  Illinois  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  re- 
sumed farming,  but  removed  to  Kansas  some  years  later,  and  is  a 
clerk  and  assistant  postmaster  at  Cherokee,  Crawford  county,  at 
present. 

JOHN  ZANISE,  aged  twenty-one,  farmer,  born  in  Lancaster, 
Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  enlisted  from  Manito,  111. 
He  served  through  the  Kentucky  campaign,  and  died  at  Nashville, 
Tenn.,  December  6,  1862. 


RECRUITS. 

SEBASTIAN  G.  BLUMENSHINE  was  born  in  Washington, 
Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  June  17,  1843,  and  was  a  farmer  when  he 
enlisted  from  his  native  town,  December  12,  1863.  He  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  and  when  the  Eighty-fifth  was  mustered  out 
he  was  transferred  to  Company  C,  Sixteenth  Illinois,  where  he 
served  until  July  8,  1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out  with  that  regi- 
ment. He  is  farming  near  Clearwater,  in  Sedgwick  county, 
Kansas. 

AUSTIN  CONNET  enlisted  from  Jackson,  111.,  January  15,  1865; 
was  transferred  to  Company  C,  Sixteenth  Illinois,  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  and  was  mustered  out  with  that  regiment  July  8,  1865. 

FRANKLIN  EVANS  enlisted  from  Wilmington,  111.,  January 
15,  1865,  and  was  transferred  to  Company  C,  Sixteenth  Illinois,  at 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered  out  with  that  regiment 
July  8,  1865. 

N.  J.  KEMP — The  records  do  not  disclose  the  date  nor  the  place 
of  his  enlistment,  but  he  was  present  and  was  wounded  in  the  fight 
at  Rome,  Ga.,  May  17,  1864.  A  piece  of  shell  struck  him  on  the 
belt  buckle,  driving  it  under  the  skin,  but  not  through  the  wall  of 


ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  K.  497 

the  abdomen.  It  passed  round  to  the  back  bone,  where  it  was 
located  and  cut  out  by  Surgeon  Dieffenbacher.  When  the  regi- 
ment was  mustered  out  this  soldier  was  absent  (sick  of  his  wound 
in  the  general  hospital  at  Camp  Butler,  111.,  and  was  honorably 
discharged  therefrom.)  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  settled  at 
Sparta,  Wis.,  where  he  still  resides,  if  living. 

OWEN  McDONALD— The  date  and  place  of  enlistment  does 
not  appear  on  the  records  of  the  company,  but  he  was  mustered 
out  with  the  regiment.  He  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  after  the 
close  of  his  service  located  at  Havana,  111.,  where  he  committed 
suicide  by  drowning  in  about  1870. 

JOHN  CLIFTON — No  record;  is  a  farmer  and  resides  at  Shu- 
bert,  Neb. 

GEORGE  EMIT  enlisted  from  Reed,  Henderson  county,  Illinois, 
January  10,  1865. 

DANIEL  FLEMING  enlisted  April  10,  1865,  from  Buena  Vista, 
111. ;  mustered  out  May  11,  1865. 

PETER  HELD  enlisted  from  Chicago,  111.,  October  4,  1864.  No 
further  record. 

WASHINGTON  SMITH  enlisted  from  Blandinsville,  111.,  No- 
vember 18,  1863.  Was  born  in  Ohio  county,  Kentucky,  and  dis- 
charged without  date. 

GEORGE  THOMPSON  enlisted  from  Chicago,  111.,  November  8, 
1864.  No  further  record. 

RICHARD  WILSON  enlisted  from  Chicago,  111.,  October  8, 
1864.  No  further  record. 

JOSEPH  ZIMMERMAN  enlisted  from  Buena  Vista,  111.,  April 
19,  1865,  and  was  mustered  out  May  11,  1865. 


On  page  68,  James  A.  Mallory  should  be  John  A.  Mallory. 

On  page  368,  David  Cornham  should  read  David  Cornman. 

On  page  229,  James  Moslander  should  read  Joseph  Moslander. 

On  page  374,  the  name  of  James  W.  Tippey  appears  twice.  The 
first  or  upper  name  is  correct,  but  the  other  should  read  Henry 
Tippey. 


INDEX. 


Addis,  James  P 152,  468 

Akerson,  John  G 362 

Albin,  John  M 350 

Alkire,  William  D 192,  203,  380 

Alger,  Gen.  R.  A 8 

Allen,  William  S...68,  191,  342,  362 

Allen,  Andrew  J 398 

Allen,  William  F 38,  413 

Alyea,  Francis  M 349 

Alyea,  John  W 350 

Ames,  Orpheus 153,  486 

Amsden,  Lincoln 475 

Amsler,  Henry •.  .422 

Anderson,  Col.  W.  B 117 

Anderson,  Capt.  E.  L 187 

Andrus,  Adjt.  Clark  N. 

20,  68,  93,  191,  228,  229,  337,  409,  488 

Andrews,   George 488 

Anno,  John  F 203,  229,  319 

Anno,  Levi  S 348 

Armstrong,  David 60,  413 

Armstrong,   Pleasan  t 380 

Armstrong,  William 383 

Armstrong,   Boling 413 

Arnett,  James  P 71,  349 

Arnold,  John  H 192,  204,  413 

Aten,  Henry  J 1,  6,  8,  183,  436 

Aten,  John 10,  38,  273,  440 

Atchinson,   Michael 203,  382 

Atchinson,  John  H 382 

A  very,  Thomas  J 20,  342,  398 

Atwater,   Miles  L 440 

Atwater,   William 440 

Baggs,    John 425 

Baird,  Gen.  Absalom... 73,  162,  286 

Bailor,  Jesse 203,  367 

Barwick,  Jos.  S..5,  20,  201,  240,  341 

Barnett,  Capt.  Charles  M 

11,  28,  53,  106,  117,  124 

Barnett,  Cleghorn 414 

Barnett,   John 160,   413 

Barnes,  Joel  A 10,  458 

Barnes,  George  W 68,  458 

Barnes,  Hezekiah 352 

Bartram,  Reuben  W 350 

Barr,  John  M 72,  488 

Bash,  Isaac  C 366 

Bass,  Gibson 38,  96,  351 

Bass,  John  431 

Batterton,  Green  P 407 

Beal,  Henry 398 

Beatty,  Gen.  John 117,  141 

Beck,    William 488 

Beck,  Phillip 204,  423 

Beebe,  Albert  G 38,  345 

Behymer,  Oliver  P 203,  368 

Beekman,    Martin 367 

Belles,    John   W 474 

Belles,  William  476 

Bell,  Thomas  M 38,  368 

Berry,  Francis  M 398 

Bird,  William  424 

Bishop,  Joseph  K 364 


Black,  Capt.  Samuel....  11,  73,  375 

Black,  David  P 349 

Black,  George 203,  378 

Black,   Clinton 152,  399 

Blakesley,  Wesley  C 83,  488 

Blair,  Gen.  Frank  P 301 

Blanchard,  Capt.  George  A... 

71,  129,  203,  375 

Blizzard,  William  D 38,  352 

Bloomfield,  Henry 41,  72,  458 

Blumenshine,  Sebastian  G.ll,  496 

Boarmaster,  Lewis 227,  365 

Bobbitt,  George  W.  S 349 

Bodle,  Joseph  485 

Bochert,  Charles 325,  410 

Bolen,  John  B 60,  442 

Bolen,  Benjamin  457 

Boon,  Calvin  W 192,  229,  348 

Boon,  John  A 350 

Booth,  John  W 143,  351 

Borchert,  Charles 325,  410 

Bortzfield,  William.... 203,  229,  351 

Bortzfield,  John,  Jr 203,  351 

Bortzfleld,  Jacob 168,  351 

Bowers,  Jefferson 41,  488 

Bowman,  Robert  A.... 122,  420,  421 

Bowman,  Ellis 364 

Boyer,  David  425 

Boyd,  William 299,  442 

Bradburn,  John  W 51,  351 

Bradburn,  James  M 350 

Bradburn,  James  M.,  Jr..  192,  351 

Brannan,  Gen.  James  M 104 

Bragg,  Gen.  Braxton 

....27,  45,  62,  100,  127,  142,  286,  317 

Branson,  Charles  R 143,  458 

Branson,   Zebulon 476 

Brandon,  D.  A 192,  425 

Bradford,  David 203,  383 

Breckenridge,  John  W 367 

Brewer,  Aaron 160,  441 

Brickel,  Phillip  432 

Britt,  Albert  P 71,  91,  123,  471 

Brought,   Freman 38,  395 

Brooks,   Almon 92,   381 

Brown,  Thomas 103,  441 

Brown,  Perry  441 

Brown,  Simpson  441 

Buck,  Henry  H 192,  377 

Buel,  Gen.  Don  Carlos 

31    32   42   43 
Buffalow,'  William.'.'.'.'.  203,  229, *368 

Bullard,  Norman  A 399 

Burbige,  Thomas 68,  475 

Burnside,  Gen.  A.  E 138 

Burnett,  John  L 192,  383 

Burkholder,  Simon 192,  367 

Burkhalter,  Capt.  J.  L....216,  217 

Burt.  James  F 192,  425 

Burt,  Abraham  424 

Burr,  Nelson  488 

Bushnell,  John   457 

Bushnell,  Ananias  P 458 

Butler,  Milo  474 


500 


INDEX. 


Cadwallader,  Albert  D 

6,  9,  143,  152,  203,  219,  361 

Cady,  Joseph 68,  399 

Cain,  Charles 229,  476 

Cameron,  Abraham  A 472 

Capper,  Aseria  399 

Carter,  Joseph  W 383 

Carter,  William  W 414 

Carter,  William  G 414 

Carlin,  Gen.  W.  P 36,  168,  289 

Carey,  James 152,  160,  425 

Carrington,  A.  A 484 

Carlock,  George  0 396 

Castleberry,  Henry  W 399 

Castleberry,  William  H 397 

Cassens,  Robert  400 

Castor,  Stephen  L 442 

Cates,  Ephraim 51,  384 

Chatfield,  Charles  H 

60,  143,  187,  192,  393 

Chaplain,  Joseph  R 489 

Charlton,  William  P 353 

Cheal,  James  J 425 

Chester,  James  S 9,  38,  378 

Chester,  Francis  N 9,  381 

Cheatham,  Gen.  B.  F 276,  286 

Cist,  Gen.  Henry  M 7 

Clark,  Channing 38,  381 

Clark,  William 51,  383 

Clark,  John  J 204,  425 

Clancy,  Col.  Charles  W...117,  182 

Clary,  Royal  A 38,  414 

Clary,  Abram 68,  408,  409 

Clary,  William  F 204,  410 

Clary,  Martin  S 414 

Cleveland,  P.  D 72,  425 

Cleveland,  John  H 203,  363 

Clifton,  Lev! 143,  423 

Clifton,  John  497 

Cline,  Wilson  349 

Cline,  Phillip  353 

Close,  William  D 227,  399 

Cluney,  Thomas 203,  363 

Clupper,  Perry  W 248,  439 

Coburn,  Col.  John 94 

Coe,  Lieut 252 

Cogdall,  Isaac  352 

Cogdall,  Eli  M 352 

Cogeshall,  Francis  S 394 

Cohren,  William 51,  450,  453 

Cokley,  John 68,  476 

Cokley,  Jeremiah  473 

Collins,  Albert  0 91,  123,  471 

Collins,  Leonidas  473 

Collins,  William 174,  459 

Cole,  George  414 

Colglazier,  David  B 60,  489 

Combs,  James  426 

Conley,  Andrew 71,  353 

Connett,  Austin  496 

Connor,  Henry 51,  368 

Conover,  Joseph  B.10,  203,  255,  397 

Cooper,  George 59,  440 

Cooper,  Abraham  454 

Gorman,  David 203,  368 

Cottrell,  George  H 51,  489 

Cowen,  Col.  D.  D.  T 53 

Cox,  Gen.  Jacob  D..7,  297,  301,  307 

Cox,  John  F 352 

Cox,  John  352 


Cox,  John   414 

Cozad,  Bazil 203,  368 

Crable,  Joseph  459 

Craig,  David  425 

Cratty,  Edmund 60,  352 

Crittenden,  Gen.  T.  L 32 

Cue,  Nelson  D 383 

Cummings,  Major  S.  P 

18,  20,  91,  336,  433,  450 

Cunningham,  William 32,  459 

Cunningham,  John 51,  458 

Cunningham,  Alexander  442 

Curless,  Edmund  471 

Curless,  LaFayette 51,  433,  434 

Curless,  Joseph  439 

Curless,  Lorenzo  D 442 

Curran,   Maurice   368 

Daniels,  John  R 353 

Danawain,  Samuel 51,  369 

Dare,  Charles  D 203,  369 

Daugherty,  Daniel....  192,  229,  384 

Davis,  Gen.  Jefferson  C 

30,  31,  116,  133, 

136,  141,  162,  168,  186,  196,  199,  212, 
216,  218,  247,  279,  290,  295,  301,  303 

Davis,   William 38,  400 

Davis,  Noah 203,  400 

Dawley,  Lieut.  Richard  L 117 

Dean,  William 204,  424 

Deford,  George 121,  423 

Deford,    William 94,    426 

Deitrich,  Jeremiah...  .192,  229,  384 

Deitrich,  George  W 382 

Delong,  William   422 

Derwent,  Samuel 60,  384 

Destroying  Railroad 245,  246 

Dew,  Jacob  S 227,  400 

Dial,  Lewis 214,  459 

Dickerson,  Col.  C.  J 53,  117 

Dieffenbacher,  Philip  L 

..5,  20,  38,  57,  92,  160,  291,  339,  496 

Dilworth,  Col.  Caleb  J 

18,  21,  92,  117,  170,  174,  182, 

186,   188,   193,   199,   225,   227,   325,333 

Dingles,  George   476 

Dobson,   Martin  K 457 

Dodge,  Silas 192,  229,  442 

Dodge,  John  W 442 

Dolcater,  Peter  384 

Douglass,  John  W 443 

Drake,  George 11,  192,  489 

Dray,  Samuel  A 384 

Driver,  Robert 32,  426 

Dubois,  John  426 

Duncan,  Charles  456 

Dunn,  Joseph 152,  392 

Durham,  John  M 68,  486 

Durham,  Edwin  M 342,  400 

Durdy,  James  B 343,  487 

Durdy,  Robert  S 343,  489 

Dutton,  Daniel  459 

Duvall,  John  H 38,  192,  377 

Eaton,  Thomas  C 6,  9,  364 

Earp,  William 248,  422 

Early,  Gen.  Jubal 315 

Ekis,  Michael 51,  415 

Elgin,  William  F 460 

Elliott,  Luke 51,  450,  452 


INDEX. 


501 


Elliott,  Elisha  J 192,  456 

Eller,  Jacob  489 

Emit,  George  497 

Engle,  Thomas  B 227,  456 

Evans,   H.   Clay 8 

Evans,  William  H 339 

Evans,  William  H 489 

Evans,   Franklin   496 

Eveland,  Abner   364 

Eveland,  Amos 203,  369 

Erick,  Charles  485 

Fahnestock,  Col.  A.  L 182 

Faith,  Jacob  , 410 

Fantin,  John  D 477 

Fatchcraft,  Henry  477 

Fawcette,  Michael  443 

Fawcett,  Levi  443 

Fearing,  Gen.  Benjamin  D  — 

266,  290,  293,  294,  296 

Fellows,  Captain  185 

Fenton,  John  D 193,  460 

Ferguson,  James  415 

Ferrell,  James  396 

Fitch,  Joseph  H 192,  369 

Fleming,  Daniel  497 

Floro,  Cadmus 203,  400 

Forner,  Joseph 152,  426 

Forrest,  Gen.  N.  B 

69,  82,  232,  233,  234 

Fountain,  Isaac 11,  41,  153,  490 

Frank,  John  490 

Frank,  James  426 

Frazee,  Thomas 68,  476 

Frietley,  H.  William 227,  460 

Frost,  Wesley 60,  415 

Fox,  David  369 

Furguson,  John  353 

Furguson,  Alexander  353 

Gabriel,   Phillip    426 

Gabriel,   Andrew   426 

Galbraith,   Johnston 68,  370 

Gardner,  Albert  L 385 

Gardner,  James  M 203,  385 

Gardner,  John  S 91,  354 

Gardner,  John  A 51,  385 

Gardner,  Capt.  George  Q 117 

Gardner,   John   R 385 

Garrard,  Gen.   Kenner 161 

Garrison,  Robert  C 152,  490 

Gash,    James    346 

Gehagan,   Hugh 329,   426 

Gilson,    Sanford    477 

Gilbert,   Gen.   Charles  C 

32,  33,  44,  72 

Gillmore,    Franklin 51,    353 

Gillmore,    James   F 353 

Gobon,   James    397 

Gobon,   Allen    401 

Gordon,   David  A 51,   354 

Good,  Major  Joseph 117 

Gorsage,    Jeremiah    460 

Gould,  Lorenzo  D 242,  438 

Graff,  Joseph  E 477 

Graham,  William  A 474 

Grant,  James 24,  490 

Grant,  Gen.  U.  S....7,  48,  118,  121, 

125,  127,  138,  144,  150,  156,  161,  254, 

269,  298,  300,  301,  306,  316,  320,  322 

Gray,   John   369 


Gray,  Vinson  477 

Granger,  Gen.  Gordon 

72,  75,  101,  102 

Green,  Thomas  W 385 

Green,  Boling 204,  229,  412 

Gregory,  George 51,  385 

Greathouse,  James  365 

Greathouse,  William  369 

Greathouse,  James,  Jr 369 

Griffin,  Abner  D 60,  490 

Griffin,  Isaac  N 490 

Griflin,  Richard 204,  242,  415 

Grifttn,  John  412 

Griffith,  Col.  James  R 

192,  225,  325,  326,  335,  360 

Grigg  (or  Gregg),  Robert 426 

Grissom,  Samuel  B 401 

Grover,  Benjamin  H 68,  490 

Gurnbell,  William  490 

Hadsall,  Edwin  M 203,  386 

Hagan,  John  B 68,  462 

Hale,  Josiah  477 

Halleck,  Gen.  H.  W...311,  312,  313 
Hamilton,  Jas.  M..71,  122,  203,  376 

Hamilton,  Reuben 204,  427 

Hamilton,  David 227,  422 

Hamilton,  Albert  J 122,  401 

Hamilton,  William  M 376 

Hamilton,  Charles  L, 398 

Hankins,  Stephen  415 

Hanks,  James 83,  427 

Harmon,  Col.  Oscar  F 

53,  117,  182,  186 

Hardee,  Gen.  William  J 

145,  267,  280,  284,  286,  287 

Harrison,  William  C 354 

Harker,  Gen.  Charles  G 190 

Harbert,  John  L 401 

Harris,  William  H 461 

Hastings,  James  L 20,  343,  379 

Hastings,  Daniel  W 51,  385 

Havens,  Daniel 38,  68,  203,  345 

Havens,  Samuel 68,  413 

Hays,  Daniel 60,  443 

Hazen,  Gen.  William  B 

7,  121,  253,  295 

Hazleng,  John 343,  401 

Heaton,  Simon 248,  461 

Heald,  John  W 370 

Held,  Peter  497 

Henfling,  F.  S 45,  51,  427 

Henfling,  Henry 51,  427 

Henderson,  Silas  D 455 

Hetzeler,  George 193,  486 

Hibbs,  Benjamin  491 

Hicks,  Willard 108,  229,  401 

Hitchcock,  Charles  E 491 

Himmill,  Adam  J 485 

Hinsey,  Americus 204,  427 

Hoagland,  George  488 

Hodge,  Hasard  427 

Hodge,  Alexander 192,  427 

Hodge,  John  424 

Hodge,  George 96,  427 

Hohamer,  William  F..204,  229,  411 
Holstead,  Capt.  David  M 

91,  108,  122,  470,  471 

Holley,  Jeremiah 203,  381 

Hollingsworth,  Thomas  H.  B.380 


502 


INDEX. 


Hole,  John  N 483 

Hole,  William  H 5,  6,  11,  484 

Holt,  Solomon  443 

Holmes,  William  D 203,  370 

Holmes,  John  Q 477 

Holmes,  Maj.  J.  T 197,  199,  287 

Hons,  Solomon  386 

Hons,  Wesley  386 

Hood,  Gen.  J.  B 7,  205,  209 

213,  231,  235,  239,  262,  276,  280,  297 
Hooker,  Gen.  Joseph 

132,  138,  173,  177 

Hopping,  George  N 486 

Hopping,  Ephraim  491 

Horton,  Marion...  .41,  150,  152,  461 

Horton,  Andrew  J 71,  452 

Horton,  Levi  428 

Horton,  Jonathan  B 461 

Horton,  Isaac  477 

Horton,  Thomas  437 

Horn,  Jacob  462 

Horsey,  Smith  B 227,  484 

Houghton,  Capt.  Chas.W.143,  393 

Houghton,  Eliza  401 

Houseworth,  John 203,  377 

Howard,  Gen.  O.  O 

131,  181,  243,  272,  280,  301 

Howard,  Henry  N 462 

Howarth,  Henry 227,  401 

Howell,  Henry 32,  354 

Howell,  George 91,  354 

Hudson,  Adjt.  Preston  C 

123,  228,  338,  471 

Hudnall,  William  C 460 

Hudnall,  James  Walter 462 

Hughes,  Wilson 51,  477 

Hughes,  Neal  P 227,  473 

Hughes,  Charles  A 229,  461 

Hughey,  Julius  T 461 

Hulburt,  William  H 462 

Hulburt,  Alansus  P 462 

Hult,  Charles  E 485 

Hurley,  Charles  370 

Hurley,  Bartholomew 68,  370 

Hutton,  Thomas  365 

Hutchins,  Harvey  H 379 

Ishmael,  Louis 203,  299,  386 

Jackson,  Joseph  E 59,  491 

Jackson,  John  E 59,  491 

Jackson,    Samuel    354 

James,  Capt.  F.  B 7,  191 

Jameson,  James  463 

Jellison,  Benjamin  463 

Jemmison,  Thomas 60,  485 

Jennings,   Anderson    454 

Jimmison,  William  H 491 

Jimmison,  James 193,  486 

Johnston,  Gen.  Jos.  E..7,  161,  167, 
195,  206,  280,  286,  294,  300,  301,  312 

Johnson,  Gen.  Richard  W 162 

Johnson,    William    422 

Johnson,    Henry  J 463 

Johnston,  John.. 203,  365 

Joneson,   Daniel  T 160,  491 

Jones,  Henry  P 242,  402 

Jones,  Samuel  355 

Jones,  William  415 

Jones,  William  J 416 


Jones,  James  M 443 

Jordan,    Benjamin  E 203,   354 

Keller,  Sylvester  478 

Kellogg,  Nathan 204,  423 

Kelley,  Josiah  H 68,  463 

Kelley,  William  402 

Kelley,  William  421 

Kelley,  William  444 

Kelso,  James  N 492 

Kemp,  N.  J 172,  496 

Kennedy,  Capt.  John 

18,  128,  192,  204,  420 

Kennedy,  John  F 438 

Kerns,  Franklin 92,  444 

Kicer,  Daniel 60,  402 

Kilpatrick,  Gen.  Judson 

161,  243,  268,  282 

King,  Newton 203,  346 

King,  David  M 444 

Kingery,  John  F 463 

Kinzer,  Amos  454 

Kirk,  Armstead  402 

Kisler,  Charles  T 203,  362 

Koozer,  Daniel 299,  355 

Kratzer,  David 192,  229,  355 

Kratzer,  Benjamin  F 38,  370 

Krebaum,  Alonzo  F 108,  366 

Laf ary,  Henry  444 

Lamperell,  Charles  444 

Lampit,  Edwin  E 122,  421 

Lane,  Richard  A 68,  386 

Lane,  Green  B 1S2,  387 

Lane,  Tidense  W 387 

Lane,  Abraham  L 387 

Lane,  Richard  463 

Langston,  Capt.  Mathew..68,  344 

Langston,  William  T 355 

Landerer,  Maurice 204,  428 

Langley,  Col.  J.  W 225,  293 

Landwith,  William  M 346 

Landon,  William  474 

Lapool,  John 10,  478 

Larance,  Joseph  402 

Larance,  James  A 402 

LaTourette,  Henry  S 

60,  12S,  147,  192,  434 

Layman,  Isaac 192,  402 

Lay  ton,  Aurelius 60,  355 

Leeper,  James 178,  192,  378 

Lee,  Gen.  Robert  E 

145,  146,  161,  269,  301,  303,  306 

Leitson,  William  416 

Leonard,  William  411 

Lewis,  James  S 444 

Levingston,  Thomas  J 445 

Lightcap,  Holo  way  W 

59,  96,  111,  338 

Lincoln,  Abraham 15,  304,  383 

Linderman.  Thomas  G 371 

Lindsey,  Uriah  B 395 

Livingston,  John 10,  444 

Lofton,  Robert  378 

Logan,  Clinton 242,  428 

Logan,  Gen.  John  A 301 

Logne,  Jacob  B 379 

Logne,  James  0 379 

Longfellow,  Daniel  G 192,  437 

Longstreet,  Gen.  James 

101,  127,  139 


INDEX. 


503 


Lovel,   Henry   463 

Lyon,  Gen.   Nathaniel 13 

Lynn,  James  S 38,  412 

Madison,   Granville    403 

MaGee,  Col.  David  W 53,  117 

MaGill,   Romeo 60,   486 

Mallory,  John  A 68,  362 

Maloney,  John 68,  428 

Maloney,  William  347 

Mann,   Isaac   363 

Maney,  Gen.  George 13S,  188 

Marion,   Gen.   Francis 251 

Maranvllle,  George  F 371 

Marlln,  Isaac  416 

Markell,   Solomon   474 

Markley,  William  481 

Marble,  William  H 91,  470 

Mardis,  Ira  A 91,  228,  452 

Marshall,  Jeremiah   388 

Mason,  Hiram 60,  355 

Mason,  Andrew  J 122,  325,  421 

Masterson,   William    484 

Massey,  William  H 487 

Matthews,  Charles  G 193,  474 

Mathews,  William  E 416 

Maxwell,   David 51,  91,  451 

Mayes,  Joseph  A 356 

McAdams,    F.    M 7 

McCook,  Gen.  Alexander  Mc- 
Dowell  32,  35,  44 

McCook,  Gen  Edward  M 161 

McCook,  Col.  Daniel 

28,  52,  53,  95,  98,  101,  103,  105, 

110,  117,  123,  140,  141,  162,  ?81,  185 

McClelland,  Nathaniel 51,  450 

McClelland,  William... 60,  433,  434 

McCain,  Alonzo 203,  347 

McCabe,  Miles 203,  395 

McCabe,  James   428 

McCabe,  Phillip   428 

McCarty,  Joseph  387 

McClaren,  John  W....174,  233,  464 

McClaren,  William  H 453 

McColgan,  Frances  M.248,  325,  421 

McConnahay,  John  M 371 

McComb,  Anderson  445 

McCausland,  William  475 

McDonald.  Milton  403 

McDonald,  Owen  497 

McCroskey,  Edward 60,  479 

McGuire,  Richard 172,  416 

McKalip,  James 71,  374 

McKillip,   William    492 

McKee,  Francis  M 463 

McKnight,  Josiah 11,  153,  492 

McLaughlin,  William 203,  347 

McLarin,  Andrew 203,  381 

McHugh,  Hugh 71,  470,  472 

McPherson,  Gen.  James  B 

161,  167,  172,  207,  208 

McNeeley,  William  412 

McNeil,  Jas  T...51,  91,  123,  228,  451 

McQuinn,  John  428 

Meade,  Gen.  George  G....315,  319 

Mence,  William  A 51,  416 

Meek,  George  W 464 

Meyers,  Solomon 41,  464 

Meyers,  George 68,  160,  362 

Mike,  Our 72,  429 


Minner,    William 41,   478 

Minner,   John   478 

Mitchell,  Gen.  Robert  B 36,  52 

Mitchell,  Col.  John  G 

101,  105,  117,  162,  181 

Mitchell,  William  H 378 

Miller,  Michael   371 

Miller,  John  C 192,  416 

Milner,  John  K 82,  203,  228,  346 

Mintonye,  Alvero  C 192,  371 

Mohlenbrink,  Henry  F 193,  492 

Mohlenbrink,   Fritz   492 

Montgomery,  Jesse  C 381 

Moore,  Col.  Robert  S 

2,  9,  17,  20,  53,  92,  332 

Moore,   Robert  S 51,  387 

Moore,  Ellis 227,  479 

Moore,  John  H 481 

Moore,  George  A 387 

Moore,  Joseph  E 479 

Morgan,  Gen.  James  D 

52,  53,  83,  92,  96,  98,  100,  117, 

141,  162,  179,  216,  218,  233,  290,  295 

Morgan,  Hugh 192,  229,  403 

Morgan,  William  H 192,  403 

Mormon  War  412 

Morris,  Charles 11,  493 

Morris,  Lester  N 59,  492 

Morris,  Alfred  T 493 

Morris,  David  371 

Moslander,  George  W.192,  203,  387 

Moslander,  James 41,  229,  473 

Moslander,  Joseph 229,  388 

Mosely,  Thomas  J 396 

Mosier,  John  W 203,  388 

Mower,  Gen.  Joseph  A 301 

Murphy,  John  J 192,  229,  403 

Mullica,  Robert  G 472 

Musselman,  D.  L 

51,  165,  192,  199,  298,  435 

Mustard,  Enoch 299,  371 

Mustard,  Lucius  371 

Myers,  James  S 403 

Myers,  George  416 

Nash,  Lemuel  Y 38,  356 

Neal,  John  W 51,  344,  345 

Neiklrk,  Eli  E 91,  242,  483 

Neider,    Robert 108,   403 

Nelson,  Gen.  William 

27,  28,  29,  30,  31 

Neeley,  William  H....192,  229,  388 

Neeley,   Samuel,  Jr 388 

Nevill,   John  R 395 

Nicholas,  James  E 372 

Newberry,  William 38,  388 

Newberry,   George  W 464 

Newman,  Fred  W 429 

Noblack,  Barnhart....l92,  242,  428 

Nott,  Massena  B 365 

Nott,  Stephen  H 203,  372 

Noyes,  David  372 

Nuhn,  Conrad 193,  487 

O'Brien,  John  422 

O'Brien,  John  396 

O'Donnell,  Joseph 51,  389 

O'Leary,  John  H 203,  372 

Opdyke,  Andrew  J 192,  380 

O'Rourk,  Patrick  404 

Orange,  Joseph 160,  429 


504 


INDEX. 


Osborn,  Richard  A 388 

Osborn,  William  464 

Osborn,  William  481 

Osterman,  Thomas  416 

Owens,  Thomas 227,  417 

Pain,  John  0 417 

Palmer,  Gen.  John  M 

138,  161,  179,  181,  196 

Palmer,  John  B 453 

Palmer,  Joel  465 

Partridge,  C.  A 7 

Parks,  Oliver  W 192,  404 

Parks,  Jacob  356 

Parks,  H.  B 429 

Parker,  Martin  V 465 

Parker,  William  R 446 

Parr,  John  N 445 

Pearcy,  James  H 389 

Pearson,  James   417 

Pelham,  William  C 51,  382 

Pelham,  James  J 379 

Pelham,  Sterling  389 

Patterson,  Jas.  C..20,  160,  340,  389 
Patterson,  Newton  C...10,  227,  404 

Patterson,  Thomas  F 394 

Patton,  John  W 361 

Paul,   Samuel   479 

Paul,  Ebenezer 51,  372,  389 

Paul,  Thomas  E 60,  374 

Paul,   Samuel   372 

Paul,  Eben  479 

Pemberton,  Beaurop  356 

Pemberton,   William  J 356 

Perkins,   John  H 465 

Peters,  Idea  F 91,  356 

Phelps,  John  L 397 

Phelps,   David  B 404 

Phillips,  William  429 

Phillips,  Isaac  429 

Phillips,  Thomas  429 

Phillips,  William  H 479 

Pierce,  James  T 5,  20,  342,  374 

Pierce,  Charles  W 38,  143,  360 

Pierce,  Thornton  S 192,  363 

Pillsbury,  George   424 

Plank,  Francis  M 204,  446 

Plank,  Martin  V 465 

Plasters,  John  404 

Plunkett,  Joseph  M....60,  408,  409 

Polk,  Gen.  Leonidas 62,  175 

Pond,  Charles 227,  485 

Porter,  Robert 59,  372 

Poster,  Lewis  357 

Post,  Lewis  S 436 

Potter,  James  411 

Potter,  William  S 49,  417 

Powell,  John  R 108,  193,  465 

Powell,  George   446 

Prentis,  Noble  L 115,  116 

Prentice,  Berry 192,  445 

Prentice,  William  445 

Pretty  man,  Jacob  H...11,  193,  493 

Price,  John  W 60,  357,  404 

Pringle,  Robert  356 

Prior,  George  D 203,  362 

Quackenbush,     Col.     Myndert 

W    53 

Quigley,  Cyrus  R 379 

Quance,  Charles  E 389 


Quinlin,  William  429 

Rakestraw,  John 68,  493 

Ramige,  William  494 

Ramon,  Comfort  H 60,  383 

Ramsey,   Hiram 60,  389 

Ransom,  William  H 68,  405 

Randall,  Walter  413 

Ratcliff,    Thomas  J 372 

Ratcliff,   Alexander  C 365 

Ray,  Rollie  405 

Ray,   William 49,  417 

Reagan,  Hiram  D 357 

Reagan,  Charles  W 203,  357 

Reason,  Robert  F 51,  483 

Reason,  Horace  F 494 

Reeder,  Henry  0 396 

Reeder,  Elias  405 

Reed,  George  W 446 

Reno,  John  E 108,  472 

Rever,   Peter  W 192,  439 

Reynolds,  George  W 51,  389 

Rheinders,  William 192,  405 

Rhoads,   Michael 121,   430 

Richey,  Andrews  377 

Richardson,  Isaac  475 

Richardson,   Franklin   373 

Rider,  Major  Robert  G 39,  91, 

95,   186,   197,   225,   227,   325,   336,   482 

Riddle,  Charles  P 52,  493 

Riley,  Matt 192,  429 

Ritter,  Aaron 203,  390 

Robinson,   Andrew 192,  417 

Robinson,    John   L 417 

Robinson,   Adoniram    493 

Robertson,  John  M 

51,  183,  192,  433,  434 

Robbins,  Alanson   405 

Roberts,  Thomas  R.  ..68,  160,  344 
Rochester,  Nathaniel  S....192,  405 

Rochester,  James  S 397 

Roe,   William  R 438 

Rogers,  Joseph  F 51,  347 

Rogers,  Michael  465 

Rosecrans,  Gen.  William  S 

46,  49,  52,  57,  60, 

62,  72,  81,  95,  97,  100,  101,  118,  265 

Rose,  William  K 51,  486 

Ross,  James. 83,  432 

Royes,  Thomas  J 51,  479 

Saffer,  John  M 192,  467 

Saffer,  James  W 469 

Sample,  Ezekiel 204,  411 

Sanit.  Phillip 203,  357 

Sandidge,  Daniel  439 

Salsbury,  James  467 

Sayres,  Lemuel  J 41,  465 

Scattergood,  Edward 204,  423 

Schofield,  Gen.  J.  M 

161,  236,  285,  298,  301,  367 

Scholes,  John 192,  406 

Scott,  Pleasant  S 

10,  18,  49,  123,  192,  325,  408 

Scott,  Franklin  F 204,  418 

Scoville,  Benjamin  F....9,  203,  382 

Scrivens,  R.  S 423 

Scroggs,  George  326 

Seay,  James  H.  T 396 

Seay,  James 10,  417 

Seibenborn,  John 229,  495 


INDEX. 


505 


Severns,  William 193,  466 

Severns,  Eli 204,  466 

Severns,  Francis  M 192,  447 

Senter,  James  T 204,  418 

Seymour,  Lewis  448 

Shackey,  Andrew  J....71,  122,  410 

Shane,  Col.  James  M 117 

Shannon,  W.  Irving... 183,  192,  437 

Shannon,  Nathan  467 

Shawgo,  Joseph  B.6,  103,  327,  447 

Shawgo,  George  W 447 

Shaw,  Ross  357 

Shaw,  Moses 52,  495 

Shaw,  George  W 60,  467 

Shay,   Henry 38,  390 

Shelabarger,  John  W 494 

Shelabarger,  Abram  494 

Sherman,  Gen.  W.  T...7,  125,  136, 
141,  157,  158,  161,  175,  177,  210,  212, 
218,  221,  228,  230,  231,  235,  243,  257, 
267,  275,  285,  287,  297,  306,  312,  321 

Sheridan,  Gen.  Philip  H 

7,  32,  35,  44,  52,  265 

Sheets,  James  N 204,  229,  411 

Shelly,  Frank 215,  456 

Shields, Washington  M..51,  71,  453 

Shields,  Henry  455 

Shields,  Eli 103,  192,  454 

Shields,  James 192,  448 

Shields,  William  457 

Shields,   John  B 466 

Shields,  Benjamin  F 467 

Shores,  John 192,  439 

Short,  Isaac  C 93,  482,  483 

Short,  William  B 390 

Shroeder,   John  W 418 

Shutt,  Christopher 51,  417 

Sigley,  David  

5,  6,  9,  192,  203,  237,  365 

Singleton,  John  F.  IVi 373 

Singleton,  Joshua  T 203,  373 

Sizelove,  John 10,  203,  405 

Skiles,  William  H 229,  373 

Slocum,  Gen.  Henry  W 

243,  268,  289,  301 

Smick,  William  S 358 

Smith,  Col.  Robert  F 53,  117 

Smith,  William 60,  390 

Smith,   George  W 348 

Smith,  Jacob  406 

Smith,  Francis  M 406 

Smith,  William  438 

Smith,  Lewis  C 446 

Smith,  Alfred 72,  447 

Smith,  Washington  497 

Snodgrass,  John  W 122,  469 

Snodgrass,  Horace  J 192,  446 

Snodgrass,  Robert  467 

Southwick,  Gilbert  W. 9,  75,  228,  340 

Southwood,    William    373 

Southwood,   Ellis 38,  373 

Spanish  War  466 

Speicht,  Michael 52,  495 

Spink,  Charles 203,  373 

Spillman,   William   430 

Spillman,   Henry    495 

Stagg,   Thomas 203,   229,  382 

Stalder,   Henry 51,   430 

Steley,  Merton 60,  406 

Steedman,  Gen.  James  B.100,  105 


Stephenson,  James  N 447 

Stewart,  Nixon  B 7,  96,  125 

Stewart,  Orlando 38,  390 

Still,  Samuel 60,  448 

Still,   Solomon   448 

Still,   Robert   448 

Stilts,  Isaac 92,  405 

Stith,  William  P 398 

Stoddard,  Milton 83,  480 

Stone,  James  A 494 

Stout,  Josiah 203,  346 

Stout,  Ephraim  418 

Stradford,  David  423 

Streeter,  Henry  R 192,  357 

Strode,  Silas  374 

Stubblefleld,  John 203,  390 

Stubblefleld,  Archibald  J..51,  390 

Stull,  William  R 366 

Summers,   Joel   E 349 

Sutton,  Henry  418 

Swan,  John  W 456 

Swift,  Charles  G 480 

Swisher,  Henry  C 

103,  217,  218,  309,  466 

Talbot,  John  B 358 

Tangard,  Benjamin  430 

Tarter,  Laban  V 41,  472 

Taylor,    David 215,    449 

Taylor,   George   412 

Taylor,  A.  J 204,  229,  410 

Tegard,   Everard 52,   495 

Temple,  Jonathan  P 38,  391 

Tenney,  Richard  W....68,  420,  421 

Terry,  Joel  F 204,  430 

Terry,  Gen.  A.  H 285,  297,  301 

Tidrick,  Alexander  R 192,  440 

Tiery,  William 122,  468 

Tilson,  Col.  John 53,  117 

Tippey,  James  W 374 

Tippey,  Warren 203,  364 

Tippey,  Henry  374 

Thario,  John  463 

Thomas,  Gen.  George  H.43,  44,  77 
106,  116,  119,  120,  156,  161,  182,  187, 
196,  212,  216,  240,  262,  265,  298,  326 

Thomas,  James  E 192,  204,  418 

Thomas,  Zimri  N 153,  487 

Thomas.  James  E 192,  204 

Thomas,   Aaron    448 

Thomas,  David  448 

Thomas,   Azariah    474 

Thompson,  William  M 38,  358 

Thompson,  John  A.... 193,  229,  468 

Thompson,  John 152,  449 

Thompson,   John   430 

Thompson,   Samuel   457 

Thompson,    George    497 

Toler,  James  T 152,  468 

Toler,  Col.  Silas  C 53 

Toley,  Charles  W 406 

Tomlin,  John  H 192,  391 

Toney,  Antoine  430 

Topping,  Col.  E.  H 117,  207 

Trapp,   Oliver 72,  480 

Traylor,  Leonidas  418 

Trayer,  John  475 

Treadway,   Martin  L 71,  406 

Trent,  Hugh  A 60,  204,  325,  409 

Trent,  Dallas  A 203,  358 


506 


INDEX. 


Trent,  Pleasant  348 

Trent,  Thomas   358 

Troy,  Martin 242,  406 

Turner,    John 51,   432 

Turner,  William  W.60,  82,  160,  395 

Turner,   Van   398 

Tyrrell,  William  A 203,  391 

Tyra,  George  480 

VanDorn,  Gen.  Earl 

14,  47,  74,  84,  90 

VanDeusen,  John  P 83,  358 

TanHorn,  Thomas  B 7 

VanHorn,  David  P 495 

VanTassel,   Col.   Oscar 117 

VanVleck,  Col.  Carter 117 

Varnum,  B.  P 204,  424 

Veileit,  Leander 71,  410 

Wainwright,  Capt.  S.  A 19,  28 

Wag-oner,  Jeremiah 203,  391 

Wagoner,  William  H 487 

Walker,  Col.  James  P 

20,  92,  122,  334 

Walker,  William  W....71,  122,  376 

Walker,    Austin 193,    480 

Walker,  John  S 484 

Wallace,  James  401 

Ware,  Eugene  F 331 

Warner,  Edward  431 

Warner,  W 431 

Waterman,  George 192,  419 

Watkins,  Col.  Louis  D 83,  89 

Watson,  John 41,  193,  475 

Welch,  James  H 203,  407 

Welsh,   Ira 60,   407 

Welsh,  George  M 60,  348 

Welsh,  Edward   419 

Welker,  Lemuel 108,  473 

Weideman,  Solomon  487 

Went,   Henry   495 

Westnour,  Fitzhugh  431 

Westerfield,  James  H 374 

Westfall,  Daniel 68,  82,  345 

Wetzel,  George  H 193,  455 

Wilder,  D.  W 191 

Wiles,  Col.  W.  M 117 

Williams,  William  0 85,  90 

Wilcox,  Jasper 60,  366 

Wilcox,  Jasper   481 


Wilson,   John   C 395 

Wilson,   G.   H 431 

Wilson,   Henry  H 457 

Wilson,  Richard  497 

Winchell,  Albert   480 

Winchell,  William  B 203,  374 

Winchell,  George 203,  374 

Wiseman,  Capt.  Theodore 179 

Wood,    John   A 359 

Wood,    David 203,    359 

Woodcock,  Alex 51,  431 

Wolf,  John  424 

Workman,   George 103,   449 

Worley,  Daniel 41,  469 

Wheeler,  Gen.  Joseph 

69,  82,  247,  251,  272 

Wheeler,   Ellas    438 

Wheeler,  Arden  468 

Wheeler,  Thomas  469 

White,  Benjamin 38,  347 

White,  Martin  L 60,  359 

Whitney,  William  431 

Whip,   Marcellus   391 

Whittaker,  Wesley  J 60,  359 

Whittaker,  James  M 153,  495 

Whittaker,  Gen.  Walter  C....101 

Whittaker,  Jacob 204,  431 

Wright,  John  B 20,  71,  337,  431 

Wright,  Samuel  F 20,  59,  338 

Wright,  Lewis  P 192,  437 

Wrigley,  Matthew  L 108,  430 

Tardley,  Jacob  407 

Tardley,  Henry  G 392 

Yates,  Samuel 93,  482 

Yates,    Gov.    Richard 17 

Yager,  Major  John 117 

Young,  Samuel 143,  299,  394 

Young,  James  K 192,  229,  392 

Young,  Thomas  M 203,  229,  391 

Young,  Thomas  P 391 

Young,  William   396 

Young,  William  H 412 

Zanise,  John 60,  496 

Zellers,  Frederick  F...108,  193,  469 

Zentmire,  David  4% 

Zimmerman,  Joseph  497 

Zimmerman,  John  T 108,  455 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


KWlHEEIGHTY-RFTH  REGIMENT,  IL 


